------- ^ '0J 

t LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. | 

f # 

f UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



I 



MORMONISM 



AJST) 

THEM O R M O N S: 

A 

HISTORICAL VIEW 

OF THE 

RISE AND PROGRESS 

OF THE SECT SELF-STYLED 

LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

BY DANIEL P. KIDDER. 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times 
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seduci-ng spirits, 
and doctrines of de%ils, speaking lies m hypocrisy, having their 
conscience seared with a hot iron. — 1 Timothy iv, 1-3. 



NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED BY G. LANE «t P. P. SAXDFORD, 
FOR the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE CONFERENCE 
OFFICE, 200 MULBERRY-STREET. 

J. Collord, Printer. 
1842. 




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by 
G. Lane & P. P. Sandfoed, in the Clerk's Office of the District 
Court of the Southern District of New-York, 



Control Number 

■■III 

tnip96 032052 



PREFACE. 



It is due to the writer, no less than to the 
reader, that the circumstances which have call- 
ed forth the present volume should be stated. 
On the 13th of Nov., 1840, I was at a place 
called Fulton City, on the upper waters of the 
Mississippi river, waiting for the descent of 
some steamboat in which I might take passage. 
About day-break the next morning a boat was 
hailed, and I went on board. The bustle of 
embarkation was hardly over before I learned 
that the boat was owned and principally man- 
ned by Mormons, being called Nauvoo. It 
moreover carried Joseph Smith, Jr., in the cha- 
racter of passenger ; although in reality he was 
chief director of the whole concern. It ap- 
peared that among the multitudes drawn toge- 
ther at the Mormon settlements in the west, 
were a number of individuals more or less ac- 
quainted with navigation. In order that their 
talent might not be unemployed. Smith and his 
coadjutors had purchased a steamboat, and com- 
menced running it on the river for purposes of 
speculation, and also doubtless with a view to 
accommodating their colony at Nauvoo. On 



4 



PREFACE. 



board this boat was a small, but promiscuous 
company of passengers, most of whom, having 
embarked without a knowledge of the peculiar 
company into which they would be introduced, 
soon found themselves annoyed by a system of 
surveillance that was maintained over them. 
If in their conversation any remarks were 
dropped indicative of doubt concerning the 
truth of Mormonism, or of want of respect to- 
ward the leaders of that sect, they were almost 
sure to be reported to Smith. He, as the leader 
and champion, took it upon himself to chastise 
with severe words any who had thus offended. 
He did not explain the manner of his informa- 
tion respecting the expressions of those with 
whom he had not conversed ; but asserted him- 
self to be " a discerner of spirits," and affected 
to disclose v/hat was in the heart of others. In 
short, his repeated treatment of those who did 
not acknowledge his pretensions, exemplified 
an assertion of his own, viz., that in order to 
get through the world to the best advantage, he 
had learned to browbeat his w^ay. I had at 
that time but little acquaintance with the doc- 
trines or peculiarities of Mormonism, and there- 
fore felt bound to avail myself of all the facili- 
ties for gaining information, in the midst of 
which I w^as so unexpectedly thrown. 

I will neither attempt to detail what passed 
in the course of the two or three days I spent 
in company with the individual referred to, nor 
inquire what agency his prophetic knowledge 
had in running the boat out of her proper course. 



PREFACE. 



5 



and driving her upon rocks, at a moment when 
he himself was assisting the pilot at the wheel! 
It was by the last-mentioned circumstance that 
my passage on the Nauvoo was interrupted, and 
the poor boat left fast upon the upper rapids of 
the Mississippi, until a rise of water took her off. 

Perhaps this untoward event was in judg- 
ment upon the prophet for violating the com- 
mand of one of his own revelations, which 
originating, as it would appear, in his having 
been sadly frightened in a passage on one of 
the lakes, forbade himself and his elders ever 
exposing their precious lives to the perils of 
navigation otherwise than by canal ! 

On leaving the Nauvoo for another boat, 
which came to our relief, several passengers 
of the former requested me to draw up a state- 
ment of what we had witnessed for publication 
at St. Louis. This I declined, but promised at 
a future day to prepare an article for the press, 
in which, without setting down aught on the 
score of the personal treatment we had received, 
I would endeavour to place the subject of Mor- 
raonism in its true light. Such an article was 
prepared for publication in the Methodist Quar* 
terly Review. It however being rather too long 
for an insertion in that periodical, the editor and 
others recommended its revision with a view to 
publication in its present form. 

The works adopted as a basis of the review 
were, 

I. The Book of Mormon, translated by Jo- 



6 



PREFACE. 



seph Smith, Jr., third edition, carefully revised 
by the Translator. Nauvoo, Illinois, stereo- 
typed. Cincinnati, 1840. 

II. Doctrine and Covenants of the Church 
of the Latter-day Saints ; carefully selected and 
compiled from the Revelations of God, by Jo- 
seph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rig- 
don, Frederick G. Williams, (Presiding Elders 
of said Church,) Proprietors, Kirtland, Ohio, 
1835. 

III. History of Mormonism ; or a faithful Ac- 
count of that singular Imposition and Delusion, 
with Sketches of the Characters of its Propa- 
gators, to which are added. Inquiries into the 
probability that the Historical Part of the Golden 
Bible was written by one Solomon Spalding, 
and by him intended to have been published as 
a Romance. By E. D. Howe. Painesville, 
Ohio, 1840. 

IV. A brief History of the Church of Christ 
of Latter-day Saints, (commonly called Mor- 
mons,) including an Account of their Doctrines 
and Discipline, with Reasons of the Author for 
leaving the Church. By John Corrill, a Mem- 
ber of the Legislature of Missouri. St. Louis, 
1839. 

These books, not having been published in 
the Atlantic states, have been beyond the reach 
of many into whose hands this volume will fall. 

From them, as containing authentic data upon 
several branches of the subject, extracts have 
been freely made, while various other sources 
of information have been resorted to, including 



PREFACE. 



7 



nearly all the official Mormon publications, a 
volume of the Millennial Star, published in 
England, and the Times and Seasons, now 
edited by Smith, at Nauvoo. 

A want of materials has not been the diffi- 
culty in the present undertaking : but to select 
such as would repay the reader for examination 
was a task which it would perhaps be vain in 
me to suppose accomplished. In refuting pre- 
tensions intrinsically absurd, argument itself 
becomes supererogation. To invest with inte- 
rest a subject which of itself is low and grovel- 
ling, can only be done by elevating that subject 
to a rank it never deserved. These considera- 
tions have hitherto induced the comparative 
silence of the press upon the proper merits of 
Mormonism. The delusion in the mean time 
has spread, until its growing evils have won 
for it a consequence to which the Christian and 
the philanthropist can be no longer indifferent. 
Smith already claims to have more than one 
hundred thousand followers. Such claim is 
doubtless made for effect, and is grossly exag- 
gerated. Nevertheless, from an examination 
of the various letters and reports published in 
his official paper, I am forced to the conclusion 
that the Mormons actually number at the pre- 
sent time about eighteen thousand. They 
are distributed nearly as follows : — Nauvoo and 
vicinity, eight thousand five hundred. Other 
parts of the United States and Canada, three 
thousand. Great Britain, six thousand five 
hundred. 



8 



PREFACE. 



While many have feared lest any refutation 
of their principles should only give them in- 
creased notoriety, and while the materiel of a 
complete and convincing exposure of their er- 
rors and schemes has been accessible to but 
few, they hare by no means been indifferent to 
the power of the press as an auxiliary to their 
efforts. They have published several newspa- 
pers in the United States, and one in England. 
A third and stereotype edition of the Book of 
Mormon has been issued in this country-. The 
same work has been republished in England, 
together with a hymn-book, and various circu- 
lars and pamphlets setting forth their dogmas. 
A book has been prepared to operate in their 
behalf in Germany. One of their elders was, 
by the last intelligence, proceeding across the 
continent of Europe on a mission to Palestine, 
A newly ordained teacher had sailed for South 
Australasia, and another in the army ordered 
to India. 

Let any one reflect upon the ruinous nature 
of this delusion, and on the spiritual blindness 
and misery it will inevitably entail upon its 
successive victims, and answer if American 
Christians have not been criminally indifferent 
to their duty both of informing themselves and 
the world of its true character. Isfnorantly it 
has been received by thousands. The leaven 
of corruption bas begun to work far and near, 
and who can tell how many souls will be con- 
taminated, or how many years shall pass, ere it 
will be thoroughly purged out ' 



PREFACE. 



9 



In the facts which this work exhibits, the 
reader will find the spread of Mormonism ac- 
counted for on natural principles, altogether 
independent of its claim to the divine sanc- 
tion. It will be understood that our only oppo- 
sition to Mormonism is on the ground of its 
being a religious imposture. 

That its adherents are entitled to all the 
rights and immimities of freemen we strenuous- 
ly maintain. That they have been wickedly 
persecuted is beyond a doubt ; and that this 
circumstance has been a prime cause of their 
recent increase is equally clear. Finding the 
plea of persecution to be their strong hold, it is 
not wonderful that they should resort to it when 
hard pressed for arguments. Hence it appears 
to have become their habit to meet whatever is 
said respecting the origin of their sect with a 
flat, but unsatisfactory denial. This undoubt- 
edly is their shortest course, and that which is 
least hazardous of self-contradiction. How 
much weight such denial is entitled to, may be 
seen in its conflicting with the plainest certified 
and circumstantial evidence. 

To prevent this retreat from investigation 
under cover of a denial- to well-authenticated 
facts, I have been obliged to preserve in bor- 
rowed language many statements that could 
have been made at once more brief, and more 
agreeable to the reader in another dress. 

The present work was not undertaken from 
a desire to interest the curious, or to edify the 
learned. To place within the reach of all who 



10 



PREFACE 



might desire them, the means both of under- 
standing and of exposing the schemes of Mor- 
monism, and thb fanaticism of the Mormons, 
was the leading design of the writer. Utility, 
correspondent to this object, has been preferred 
in all cases to embellishment. I have not been 
insensible to the vast field for speculation which 
is opened in the facts here narrated, especially 
when they are viewed in comparison with the 
fanaticisms of former ages. This I cheerfully 
leave to others. To exhibit facts, not theories, 
has been my simple aim. 

The general style of a review has been pre- 
served. To use the utmost fairness has been 
my aim. Wherein I have failed I hope will be 
shown. 

That these pages may be instrumental in 
checking the progress both of fanaticism and 
of infidelity, is the sincere desire with which 
they are now submitted to the public. 

Some delays in the issue of this work, not at 
first anticipated, have on the whole perhaps 
been beneficial, as they have enabled the writer 
to imbody, in an appendix, the more recent facts 
that have come to his knowledge, up to the very 
date of publication. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Prevalence of imposture — Religion its favourite dis- 
guise — Character of Mormonism — Causes of its spread — 
Extent of the delusion — It furnishes capital for infidelity — 
Design of this work — Wickedness and folly of persecu- 
tion — The true remedy — Notice of Howe's History — 
Corrill's — Golden Bible — Topics of inquiry. 

There are no limits to imposture. ' It has 
flourished in all ages and in every nation. 
Sometimes its very simplicity has won for it 
compassion ; at others its hideous features have 
frightened men into compliance with its man- 
dates. Here it has moulded the dies of the 
counterfeiter, and there it has woven the 
gloomy mask of superstition. It is capable of 
wearing, with equal grace, the fantastic garb 
of professed jugglery, and the grave insignia 
of the priesthood. Now it conjures up the con- 
trivances of a petty bargain, and anon it plots 
the scheme of a political intrigue. It prepares 
the potion of the empyric, and furnishes testi- 
mony to its marvellous effects. It lurks in the 
courts and cabinets of kings, and is itself en- 
throned in the tent of the wandering gipsy. 
In short, its history in different places and in 



12 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

successive periods illustrates a metempsychosis 
more subtle than the Brahmin ever conceived ; 
while its ubiquity has only been second to that 
of the spirit of evil in the heart of man. But 
of all the protean shapes it assumes, sanctity is 
its favourite. Of all the garbs in which it has 
ever been arrayed, none other so completely 
hides its deformity as that of religion. 

It is no gratifying reflection that this enlight- 
ened age, and this intelligent country, have 
witnessed the rise and spread of one of the most 
absurd and pitiful delusions of which there is 
any account. Every one has heard of the 
" Golden Bible," and of the Mormon prophet. 
While the very pretensions of either have car- 
ried self-refutation to the minds of many, their 
very extravagance has presented a charm to 
others. 

Associated on the one hand with a moneyed 
speculation, and on the other with some pecu- 
liar notions of religion which had been before 
assiduously propagated, and which were already 
popular in some parts of the country, these ex- 
travagances did not fail to attract admirers. 
Minds already settled in the principles of truth, 
or expanding in the higher pursuits of know- 
ledge, found it an unwelcome task to investi- 
gate gravely such a subject, and little appre- 
hended what would grow out of it. Thus 
neglected by some, and despised by others, 
Mormonism grew up by degrees, shaping its 
character to suit the times. It first spread 
among those who were sufficiently weak to be 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



13 



gulled into a belief of its absurdities. It soon 
had an equal currency among those who were 
either so unfortunate or so unprincipled as to 
find it for their interest to follow its leaders, or 
join its abettors. 

Persecution at length arose. Sympathy 
added to the number of the persecuted. The 
claims of their cause in the light of natural and 
civil justice induced many to think there might 
be similar grounds for their pretensions to reli- 
gious orthodoxy. 

From these, and other causes that will be 
hereafter indicated, we find that after the lapse 
of ten years from its origin, the devotees of 
Mormonism are not numbered by scores or by 
hundreds, but by thousands. It is still on the 
increase. Its emissaries, with a zeal worthy of 
a better cause, have not been content with go- 
ing through the length and breadth of our own 
land, they have crossed the Atlantic, and from 
the subjects furnished by certain classes of so- 
ciety in the old world, they are pouring in their 
proselytes among us by the ship load. 

Gladly would we have been excused from 
the task of examining the claims of Mormon- 
ism and the Mormons, did not a regard for truth, 
together with the dictates of conscience, urge 
us to undertake it. 

Justice to the world and to posterity calls 
upon Americans of the present generation to 
record facts connected with this subject which 
are now and here notorious, but which perhaps 
are unknown abroad, and which ere long might 



14 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

become questionable by confused tradition, and 
eventually lost in the oblivion of time. Con- 
science, moreover, adjures us to repel the pre- 
sumption by which the evidences of Mormonism 
have been asserted to compare with those of 
Christianity. On the ground of this presump- 
tion, the Mormon teacher already assumes to 
place himself on a level with the evangelists and 
the apostles in the propagation of his sect. The 
avowed infidel wields the same presumption 
with an equal zest in his attempted subversion 
of all revealed truth. There are strong grounds 
of probability that a disposition to sport with 
the credulity of mankind, and thus to make 
capital for skepticism, not only laid the corner- 
stone of Mormonism, but has planned and car- 
ried up the whole superstructure. Certain it 
is, that no scheme could have been devised for 
that purpose with the hope of producing more 
fruitful results. 

In the progress of the present work we shall 
be obliged to unmask deception, and to place 
before the world the principal agents of this 
imposture in their true and attested character ; 
yet we hope to do it in fairness and candour, so 
that could we gain the attention of any individ- 
uals exposed or already subject to the mental 
and spiritual contamination of which there have 
been such unhappy examples, we trust they 
may here find an antidote. At the same time, 
appealing to reason, to justice, and to the rights 
of man, we hope to rebuke that spirit of anar- 
chy and intolerance which thinks to smother 



MORMOXISM AXD THE MORMONS. 



15 



investigation on any subject, or to crush down 
even error itself, by means of oppression. 

The Mormon, however mistaken in any of 
his views, is none the less a citizen. While 
he therefore, in common with all others, is 
amenable to the laws of his country, he deserves 
equally with them to be maintained in the ex- 
ercise of all his rights, by the supremacy of the 
laws, and the integrity of that country. Nor 
can those rights be infringed upon with impu- 
nity. Aggression is sure to beget retaliation ; 
and when once the restraints of law have been 
broken over, especially by a community, w^here 
can we expect the ton-ent of evil consequences 
to be stayed ? The aggressor of to-day may be 
the victim to-morrow, and thus onward till the 
nation is plunged in a ci^^dl war of extermination. 
While then we have much to lay to the charge 
of those w^hom we believe to be the authors of 
a scheme of vile deception, we by no means 
hold guiltless those who, by injudicious and 
illegal opposition, have done more to advance 
that very scheme, and multiply its deluded vic- 
tims, than could ever have been done by its 
• original contrivers, had they been left to them- 
selves. 

Nor is it merely in view of the past that we 
record these sentiments. The numbers attach- 
ed to the Mormon community, and their pecu- 
liar policy toward those without its pale, give 
cause of apprehension for the future. It is ex- 
ceedingly important, therefore, that the inhabit- 
ants of this country, and of our great west 



16 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



especially, should fully understand this subject, 
and their duty with respect to it. Patience 
under any aggi'avations will be the mark of dis- 
cretion. Truth and reason are the only wea- 
pons they can use with safety either in attack 
or defence. Let knowledge and piety be dif- 
fused — let the pure principles of the gospel be 
disseminated and practised, and there will be 
nothing to fear. But in the absence of these, 
there will be no barrier against the giant strides 
of fanaticism, and no restraint upon the extra- 
vagances of human passion and folly. 

A strong presumption in favour of the truth 
of Scripture history arises from the fact that 
when it was published to the world no part of 
it was contradicted. Although numbers refused 
their assent to the doctrines of Christianity, and 
were interested to oppose them, yet there has 
come down to us no contemporaneous denial of 
its premises, no exposition of the deceptions on 
which it was based, if such existed. 

Such a presumption in favour of Mormonism 
is wholly destroyed by the existence of two of 
the works, whose titles are given in the pre- 
face. Howe's History of Mormonism, on ex- ' 
amination, appears to be what its title indicates, 
" a faithful account of that singular imposition 
and delusion" during the first years of its rise. 
Its author did not content himself with record- 
ing facts merely upon the strength of public 
notoriety, but in every practicable instance he 
has collected the concurrent and certified tes- 
timony of living witnesses. He has imbodied 



MDRMOXlSM AND THE MORMONS. 



17 



the depositions and certificates of a large num- 
ber of respectable citizens in western New- 
York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, respecting the 
pretended discovery, translation, and publica- 
tion of the Book of AJormon, and also respect- 
ing the character of those engaged in the affair. 
Whatever may have been the success of this 
work on its publication, the author will not fail 
to realize a rich reward in the approbation of 
all who become acquainted with his industry, 
and especially in the gratitude of coming gene- 
rations, should they be so unfortunate as to need 
demonstrative arguments in refutation of the 
system of imposture, whose origin he has de- 
lineated. 

Corrill's " Brief History" comes from an- 
other, and a very different source. Its author 
was for several years a member and an elder 
of the Mormon church. He explains the pro- 
cess by which he became such, and the reasons 
why he continued so long an adherent to prac- 
tices which his good sense and better feelings 
condemned. He also testifies to the incredible 
inconsistencies which at length drove him to 
the extremity of casting off his allegiance to a 
false prophet. His work is by no means full 
and explicit, and insomuch fails to be satisfac- 
tory. Nevertheless, in several respects, it is 
valuable. It was manifestly an object for the 
author, in justification of himself, to state the 
very best arguments that exist in favour of Mor- 
monism — such as had been successful with 
himself, and with those among whom he had 
2 



18 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

been able to propagate the system ; and we are 
disposed to pardon the generality of his re- 
marks, and the reserve in his statements, when 
we consider that to have divulged more would 
have seemed like bearing witness against him- 
self, and glorying in his ovv^n shame. Query. 
Why were not some of the elders of Israel, or 
of the apostolic church, at least as honest as 
this man, so that if, in the course of long and 
painful experience, they became convinced of 
their delusion, they would, like him, have con- 
fessed it, and thus set up a waymark for their 
countrymen and their children in coming days ? 

These works correspond in all the important 
particulars which they both contain, and from 
them will be abridged the facts which imme- 
diately follow. 

In the year 1827 it began to be rumoured 
that a " Golden Bible," or, in other words, a 
new revelation, recorded upon plates of gold, 
had been found in Ontario county, New-York, 
by one Joseph Smith. 

In the year 1830 a publication made its ap- 
pearance, entitled, " The Book of Mormon," 
purporting to be a translation of said record. 
Upon the divine authenticity of that book, upon 
its asserted miraculous preservation " in the 
bowels of the earth," and upon its equally mi- 
raculous discovery and translation, are predi- 
cated both the truth and the consistency of the 
whole system we are now discussing. It con- 
sequently becomes us to collect whatever light 
may be thrown upon the origin of so unusual a 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



19 



publication. Upon the Book of Mormon rests 
the whole fabric of Mormonism : let us exa- 
mine whether it be not a sandy foundation. 
That was the starting point of the whole pro- 
phetic race : let us see whether it is from 
above or heloio. That is the fountain which has 
sent forth the whole flood of blessings or of 
curses attributable to this system : let us prove 
whether its waters are sweet or bitter. 



CHAPTER 11. 

Character of inspired meii — Vicious habits of the Smiths 
— Cupidity of Harris — A chance lie — Contradictions in 
maintaining it — A speculation contrived — Money-digging 
on the Susquehannah — A runaway match — Shocking des- 
titution of moral principle. 

We will indulge for a moment the hypothe- 
sis that for wise and worthy reasons God did 
see proper then and there to make a revelation 
to the human family. It next becomes import- 
ant to inquire who are the chosen vessels by 
whom the Almighty condescended to dispense 
such grace to the world. From what we know 
of the former-day saints and prophets, men " of 
whom the world was not worthy," we should 
expect if there were any righteous upon earth — 
any full of faith and of the Holy Ghost — any who 
were watching with prayers and tears for the 
coming of the Lord, that the election would be 
made from among them. If this £ould not be 
so, we should at least look for the chosen ones 



20 



MORMOXISM AND THE MOR^IOXSi 



among the members of moral and respectable 
society. Both these expectations are doomed 
to disappointment by the facts in the case. 
Here is the testimony. 

Ma?ichester, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 1833. 
" We, the undersigned, being personally ac- 
quainted with the family of Joseph Smith, Sen., 
with whom the Gold Bible, so called, origi- 
nated, state that they were not only a lazy, in- 
dolent set of men, but also intemperate, and 
their word was not to be depended upon, and 
that we are truly glad to dispense with their 
society. 

Pardox ButtSj Warden A. Reed, 
Hiram Smith, Alfred Stafford, 

James Gee, Abel Chase, 

A. H. Wextworth, ]vIoses C. Smith, 
Joseph Fish, Horace N. Barxes, 

Sylvester Wordex," 

Palmyra, Dec. 4, 1S33. 
" We, the undersigned, have been acquainted with 
the Smith famity for a number of years, while they 
resided near this place, and we have no hesitation in 
saying, that we consider them destitute of that moral 
character which ought to entitle them to the confi- 
dence of any community. They were particularly 
famous for visionary projects, spent much of their 
time in digging for money which they pretended was 
hid in the earth ; and, to this day, large excavations 
may be seen in the earth, not far from their resi- 
dence, where they used to spend their time in dig- 
ging for hidden treasures. Joseph Smith, Senior, and 
his son Joseph, were, in particular, considered en- 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



21 



tirely de'stitute of moral character^ and addicted to 
vicious habits. 

" Martin Harris was a man who had acquired a 
handsome property, and in matters of business his 
word was considered good ; but on moral and reli- 
gious subjects he was perfectly visionary — sometimes 
advocating one sentiment, and sometimes another. 
And in reference to all with whom we were acquaint- 
ed, that have embraced Mormonism from this neigh- 
bourhood, we are compelled to say, were very vision- 
ary, and most of them destitute of moral character, 
and without influence in this community ; and this 
may account why they were permitted to go on with 
their impositions undisturbed. It was not supposed 
that any of them were possessed of sufiicient charac- 
ter or influence to make any one believe their book 
or their sentiments, and we know not of a single in- 
dividual in this vicinity that puts the least confidence 
in their pretended revelations. 

" George N. Williams, Clark Robinson, Lemuel 
Durfee, E. S. Townsend, Henry P. Alger, C. E. 
Thayer, G. W. Anderson, H. P. Thayer, L. Wil- 
liams, George W. Crosby, Levi, Thayer, R. S, Wil- 
liams, P. Sexton, M. Butterfield, S. P. Seymour, 
D. S. Jackways, John Hurlbut, H. Linnell, James 
Jenner, S. Ackley, Josiah Rice, Jesse Townsend, 
Richard D. Clark, Th. P. Baldwin, John Sothing- 
ton, Durfey Chase, Wells Anderson, N. H. Beck- 
with, Philo Durfee, Giles S. Ely, R. W. Smith, 
Pelatiah West, Henry Jessup, Linus North, Thomas 
Rogers, 2d, Wm. Parke, Josiah Francis, Amos Hol- 
lister, G. A. Hathaway, David G. Ely, H. K. Je- 
rome, G. Beckwith, Lewis Foster, Hiram Payne, 
P. Grandin, L. Hurd, Joel Thayer, E. D. Robinson, 
Asahel Millard, A. Ensworth, Israel F. Chilson." 

After these statements, certified by sixty-two 
men of character and standing, who may bo 



22 M0R3I0XISM AND THE MORMONS. 



considered as representing the entire commu- 
nity in which this affair took its origin, we may 
safely regard the character of the persons who 
" got up'' the Book of Alormon as established ; 
at least up to the period when that work was 
published. 

Martin Harris, above and hereafter referred 
to, was second in importance only to Smith. 
Indeed, had it not been for his money, which 
he supposed profitably invested, there is no 
probability that the miraculous book would have 
ever been published. Thus the discovery and 
translation of the record would have been 
equally vain. 

It will now be curious to observe several 
particulars which are vouched for by the regu- 
larly-sw'orn affidavits of different individuals. 

1. When Joseph Smith, Jr., first pretended 
to have found a Golden Bible, it was merely in 
jest, not expecting that any would be simple 
enough to believe him. Peter Ingersol, his 
neighbour and confidential friend, thus testi- 
fies : — 

One da}^ he came and greeted me with a joyful 
countenance. — Upon asking the cause of his unusual 
happiness, he rephed in the following language : — 
* As I was passing, yesterday, across the woods, after 
a heavy shower of rain, I found, in a hollow, some 
beautiful white sand, that had been washed up by the 
water. I took off my frock, and tied up several 
quarts of it, and then went home. On my entering 
the house, I found the family at the table eating din- 
ner. They were all anxious to know the contents 
of my frock. At that moment I happened to think 



aiORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 23 

of what I had heard about a history found in Canada, 
called the Golden Bible ; so I very gravely told them 
it was the Golden Bible. To my surprise, they were 
credulous enough to believe what I said. Accord- 
ingly, I told them that I had received a command- 
ment to let no one see it, for, says I, no man can see 
it with the naked eye and live. However, I offered 
to take out the book and show it to them, but they 
refused to see it, and left the room.' * Now,' said 
Jo, ' I have got the damned fools fixed, and will car- 
ry out the fun.' Notwithstanding, he told me he had 
no such book, and believed there never was any such 
book, yet he told me that he actually went to Willard 
Chase, to get him to make a chest, in which he might 
deposit his Golden Bible. But, as Chase would not 
do it, he made a box himself, of clap-boards, and put 
it into a pillow-case, and allow^ed people only to lift 
it, and feel of it through the case." 

2. As is usual, in such cases of fibbing, his 
stories were contradictory. Here is part of the 
testimony of Willard Chase. 

" In the fore part of September, (I believe,) 1827, 
the prophet requested me to make him a chest, in- 
forming me that he designed to move back to Penn- 
sylvania, and expecting soon to get his gold book, he 
w^anted a chest to lock it up, giving me to understand, 
at the same time, that if I w^ould make the chest he 
would give me a share in the book. I told him my 
business was such that I could not make it : but if 
he would bring the book to me, I would lock it up 
for him. He said that would not do, as he was com- 
manded to keep it two years, without letting it come 
to the eye of any one but himself. This command- 
ment, however, he did not keep, for in less than tw^o 
years twelve men said they had seen it. I told 
him to get it and convince me of its existence, and I 



24 MORMONISM AND THE ZIORMONS. 



would :: ike him a chest ; but he said that woald not 

do. as ne must have a chest to loeV the book in, as 

soon as he took it out of the rr ruuu. I saw him a 
few days after, when he to:: me uue: I must make 
the chest. I ::lu him iheiu.v "he: I ; h' im. upon 
which he tohu m.e tna: I couiu riave no :rua:e m the 
book. 

*• A few weeks erer ^h:.? c ''nversario.u. he came to 
my house, and ieh?.:e: hie :ehov,-i-g s:ory ; — That 
on the 22d of Sememoer ne e: :se eer'v m :ne mcrn- 
ing, and took a o:;e-n:ine .v:^:.:. if ^:me :ne mat 
had stayed over m^n: me:: hmme, -.v:::-_-.:: mave 
or license : and. terenme em nm :v:m. immrri to 
the hill which contame:. hm m^k. He hm '.vife 
in the wagon, by the rm ■ : e: -me: e!m:e ^e :::e h:ih 
a distance of thirrv o: : :: : : : " he 

said he then took me : m : ^ ; : .: 

it in a tree-top. ael :e ;:e: : l.::ixe, He :r : em 
to the town of Alace h: e ;:^^^ :rk. After :.:: ■: :cn 

and went home in the afternr ■ ::. me-m :' 1 ; ee :e : enh to 
drink one cup of tea. and men vf.:: ::: :v:k. 
found it safe, took oif his frock ^ ::. 
put it under n:; armi. and run ah. :.=- 
t^ince of about two miles. He saiu : 
it would weigh sixty pounds, and we- se 
weigh forty. On his retur " 'm- - :m 
attacked by two men in the : :n 
both down and made his e.^ m- 
cured his treasure. — He th .ed 
not been for that stone. _ m. oe- 
longed to me.) he ' :ed the 
book. A few days a::,: v:v;.. ::-: -nr of mv 
neighbours that he haJ ne: je: any sucn b^'ok. a::k 
never had ; but that he had told tne stc ry to de- 
ceive the d d fool, (meaning me.) n'' z^' him to 



M0R3I0XISM AND THE MORMONS. 



25 



make a chest. His neighbours having become dis- 
gusted with his foolish stories, he determined to go 
back to Pennsylvania, to avoid what he called perse- 
cution. His wits were now put to the task to con- 
trive how he should get money to bear his expenses. 
He met one day, in the streets of Palmyra, a rich 
man, whose name was Martin Harris, and addressed 
him thus : — 'I have a commandment from God to 
ask the first man I meet in the street to give me fifty 
dollars, to assist me in doing the work of the Lord, 
by translating the Golden Bible.' ^Martin being na- 
turally a credulous man, handed Joseph the money. 
In the spring, 18*29, Harris went to Pennsylvania, 
and on his return to Palmyra, reported that the pro- 
phet's wife, in the month of June following, would be 
delivered of a male child that would be able, when 
two years old, to translate the Gold Bible. Then, 
said he, you will see Joseph Smith, Jr., walking 
through the streets of Palmyra, with a Gold Bible 
under his arm, and having a gold breast-plate on, and 
a gold sword hanging by his side. This, however, 
by the by, proved false. 

" In April, 1830, I again asked Hiram for the 
stone which he had borrowed of me ; he told me I 
should not have it, for Joseph made use of it in trans- 
lating his Bible. I reminded him of his promise, and 
that he had pledged his honour to return it ; but he 
gave me the lie, saying the st6ne was not mine, nor 
never was. Harris at the same time flew in a rage, 
took me by the collar and said I was a liar, and he 
could prove it by twelve witnesses. After I had 
extricated myself from him, Hiram, in a rage, shook 
his fist at me, and abused me in a most scandalous 
manner. Thus I might proceed in describing the 
character of these high priests, by relating one trans- 
action after another, which would all tend to set them 
in the same light in which they were regarded by 



26 



3I0RM0XISM AND THE MORMONS 



their neighbours, viz.. as a pest to society. I have 
regarded Joseph Smith. Jr., from the time I first be- 
came acquainted with him until he left this part of the 
country, as a man whose word could not be depend- 
ed upon. Hiram's character was but very little bet- 
ter. What I have said respecting the characters of 
these men will apply to the whole family. What I 
have stated relative to the characters of these indi- 
viduals, thus far, is vrholly true. After they became 
thorough Mormons, their conduct was more disgrace- 
ful than before. They did not hesitate to abuse any 
man, no matter how fair his character, provided he 
did not embrace their creed. Their tongues were 
continually employed in spreading scandal and abuse. 
Although they left this part of the country without 
paying their just debts, yet their creditors were glad 
to have them do so, rather than to have them stay, 
disturbing the neighbourhood. 

" Signed, VriLLARD Chase. 

On the 11th of December, 1S33, the said Wil- 
lard Chase appeared before me, and made oath that 
the foregoing statement, to which he has subscribed 
his name, is true, according to his best recollection 
and belief. Frederick Smith, 

^'Justice of the peace of Wayne county. 

" Parley Chase affirms as follows : — ' I was ac- 
quainted with the family of Joseph Smith, Sen., both 
before and since they became ^Mormons, and feel free 
to state that not one of the male members of the 
Smith family were entitled to any credit whatsoever. 
The}^ were lazy, intemperate, and worthless men, — 
very much addicted to lying. In this they frequently 
boasted of their skill. Digging for money was their 
principal employment. In regard to their Gold Bible 
speculation, they scarcely ever told two stories alike." 

3. Finding some persons credulous enough 



MORMONISM AXD THE MORMONS. 



27 



to receive his tales for truth, a moneyed specula- 
tion was planned. The following is a part of 
Henry Harris's affidavit : — 

"Joseph Smith, Jr., the pretended prophet, used 
to pretend to tell fortunes ; he had a stone which he 
used to put in his hat, by means of which he pro- 
fessed to tell people's fortunes. 

"Joseph Smith, Jr., Martin Harris, and others, 
used to meet together in private, a while before the 
gold plates were found, and were familiarly known 
by the name of the ' Gold Bible Company.' They 
were regarded by the community in which they lived 
as a lying and indolent set of men, and no confidence 
could be placed in them. 

" The character of Joseph Smith, Jr., for truth and 
veracity was such, that I would not believe him un- 
der oath. I was once on a jury before a justice's 
court, and the jury could not, and did not believe his 
testimony to be true. After he pretended to have 
found the gold plates, I had a conversation with him, 
and asked him where he found them, and how he 
came to know where they were. He said he had a 
revelation from God that told him they were hid in 
a certain hill, and he looked in his stone and saw them 
in the place of deposite ; that an angel appeared, and 
told him he could not get the plates until he was 
married, and that when he saw the woman that was 
to be his wife, he should know her, and she would 
■ know him. He then went to Pennsylvania, got his 
wife, and they both went together and got the gold 
plates — he said it was revealed to him that no one 
must see the plates but himself and wife. 

" I then asked him what letters were engraved on 
them ; he said italic letters, written in an unknown* 

* He now says Hebrew and Egyptian. Italic letters in 
Hebrew ! 



28 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



language, and that he had copied some of the words 
and sent them to Dr. Mitchell and Professor Anthon 
of New- York. By looking on the plates he said he 
could not understand the w^ords, but it was made 
known to him that he was the person that must trans- 
late them, and on looking through the stone was ena- 
bled to translate. 

" After the book was published, I frequently ban- 
tered him for a copy. He asked fourteen shillings 
a piece for them : I told him I would not give so 
much : he told me he had had a revelation that they 
must be sold at that price. 

" Some time afterward I talked with Martin Har- 
ris about buying one of the books, and he told me 
they had had a new revelation, that they might be 
sold at ten shillings a piece." 

Abigail Harris has made the following affirm- 
ation, which is sustained by a similar one from 
Lucy, the wife of Martin Harris. 

" Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., Uth mo. 28th, 1833. 

"In the early part of the winter in 1828, I made a 
visit to Martin Harris's, and was joined in company 
by Joseph Smith, Sen., and his wife. The Gold 
Bible business, so called, was the topic of conversa- 
tion, to which I paid particular attention, that I might 
learn the truth of the whole matter. They told me 
that the report that Joseph, Jr., had found golden 
plates was true, and that he was in Harmony, Pa., 
translating them. The old lady said, also, that after 
the book was translated, the plates were to be pub- 
licly exhibited — admittance twenty-five cents. She 
calculated it would bring in annually an enormous 
sum of money — that money would then be very plen- 
ty, and the book would also sell for a great price, as 
it was something entirely new — that they had been 
commanded to obtain all the money they could bor- 



MOR MONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



29 



row for present necessity, and to repay with gold. 
The remainder was to be kept in store for the bene- 
fit of their family and children. This and the like 
conversation detained me till about 1 1 o^clock. Early 
the next morning, the mystery of the Spirit 
(being myself one of the order called Friends) was re- 
vealed by the following circumstance The old lady 
took me into another room, and after closing the door, 
she said, ' Have you four or five dollars in money 
that you can lend until our business is brought to a 
close ] the Spirit has said you shall receive four-fold.' 
I told her that when I gave, I did it not expecting to 
receive again : as for money, I had none to lend. I 
then asked her what her particular want of money 
was ; to which she replied, ' Joseph wants to take 
the stage and come home from Pennsylvania to see 
what we are all about.' To which I replied, he 
might look in his stone and save his lime and mo- 
ney. The old lady seemed confused, and left the 
room, and thus ended the visit. 

" In the second month following, Martin Harris 
and his wife were at my house. In conversation 
about Mormonites, she observed, that she wished her 
husband would quit them, as she believed it was all 
false and a delusion. To which I heard Mr. Harris 
reply, ' What if it is a lie ; if you loill let me alone 
I will make money out vf it V I was both an eye and 
an ear witness of what has been stated above, which is 
now fresh in my memory, and I give it to the world 
for the good of mankind. I speak the truth and lie 
not, God bearing me witness. 

" Abigail Harris." 

Joseph Capron, after detailing sundry necro- 
mantic exploits of our hero, adds, — 

" At length Joseph pretended to find the gold 
plates. This scheme, he believed, would relieve the 



30 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



family from all pecuniary embarrassment. His fa- 
ther told me, that when the book was published, they 
would be enabled, from the profits of the work, to 
carry into successful operation the money-digging 
business. He gave me no intimation, at that time, 
that the book was to be of a religious character, or 
that it had any thing to do with revelation. He de- 
clared it to be a speculation, and, said he, ' when it 
is completed, my family will be placed on a level 
above the generality of mankind ! !' " 

The scene will now be changed from the 
state of New-York to that of Pennsylvania, 
where we shall learn some further particulars 
respecting the character and operations of these 
worthies from persons well qualified to judge 
of both. Smith's father-in-law, Mr. Hale, tes- 
tifies to the following, among other particulars. 

" Harmony, Pa., March 20th, 1834. 

" I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr., 
in November, 1825. He was at that time in the 
employ of a set of men who were called ' money-dig- 
gers and his occupation was that of seeing, or pre- 
tending to see by means of a stone placed in his hat, 
and his hat closed over his face. In this way he pre- 
tended to discover minerals and hidden treasure. 

" About this time, young Smith made several 
visits at my house, and at length asked my con- 
sent to his marrying rny daughter Emma. This I 
refused, and gave my reasons for so doing ; some of 
wdiich were, that he was a stranger, and followed a 
business that I could not approve : he then left the 
place. Not long after this he returned, and, while 
I was absent from home, carried off my daughter into 
the state of New- York, where they were married 
without my approbation or consent. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 31 

" Soon after this I was informed they had brought 
a wonderful book of plates down with them. I was 
shown a box in which it is said they were contained, 
which had, to all appearance, been used as a glass box 
of the common window glass. I was allowed to feel 
the weight of the box, and they gave me to understand 
that the book of plates was then in the box — into 
which, however, I was not allowed to look. 

" I inquired of Joseph Smith, Jr., who was to be 
the first who would be allowed to see the book of 
plates. He said it was a young child. After this I 
became dissatisfied, and informed him that if there 
was any thing in my house of that description, which 
I could not be allowed to see, he must take it away ; 
if he did not, I was determined to see it. After that 
the plates were said to be hid in the woods. 

" About this time Martin Harris made his appear- 
ance upon the stage ; and Smith began to interpret 
the characters, or hieroglyphics w^hich he said were 
engraven upon the plates, while Harris wrote down 
the interpretation. "It was said that Harris wrote 
down one hundred and sixteen pages, and lost them. 
Soon after this happened, Martin Harris informed 
me that he must have a greater witness, and said that 
he had talked with Joseph about it — Joseph informed 
him that he could not, or durst not show him the 
plates, but that he (Joseph) would go into the woods 
where the book of plates was, and that after he came 
back Harris should follow his track in the snow, and 
find the book, and examine it for himself. Harris 
informed me that he followed Smith's directions, and 
could not find the plates, and was still dissatisfied. 

" The next day after this happened, I went to the 
house where Joseph Smith, Jr., lived, and where he 
and Harris were engaged in their translation of the 
book. Each of them had a written piece of paper 
which tliey were comparing, and some of the words 



32 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS* 



were, ' My servant seeketh a greater witness^ hut no 
greater witness can he given him.'' There was also 
something said about ' three that were to see the 
thing'' — meaning, I supposed, the book of plates, and 
that ' if the three did not go exactly according to the 
orders^ the thing would he taken from them,'' I in- 
quired whose words they were, and was informed by 
Joseph or Emma, (I rather think it was the former,) 
that they were the words of Jesus Christ. I told them 
that I considered the whole of it a delusion, and ad- 
vised them to abandon it. The manner in which he 
pretended to read and interpret, was the same as when 
he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in 
his hat, and his hat over his face, while the book of 
plates was at the same time hid in the woods. 

" After this, Martin Harris went away, and Oliver 
Cowdery came and wrote for Smith, while he inter- 
preted, as above described. This is the same Oliver 
Cowdery, whose name may be found in the Book of 
Mormon. Cowdery continued a scribe for Smith 
until the Book of Mormon was completed, as I sup- 
posed and understood. 

" Joseph Smith, Jr., resided near me for some 
time after this, and I had a good opportunity of be- 
coming acquainted with him, and somewhat acquaint- 
ed with his associates, and I conscientiously believe, 
from the facts I have detailed, and from many other 
circumstances, which I do not deem it necessary to 
relate, that the whole ' Book of Mormon' (so called) 
is a silly fabrication of falsehood and wickedness, got 
up for speculation, and with a design to dupe the cre- 
dulous and unwary — and in order that its fabricators 
may live upon the spoils of those who swallow the 
deception. Isaac Hale. 

" Affirmed to and subscribed before me, March 
20th, 1834. 

" Charles Dimon, Justice of the peace. 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 33 

" State of Pennsyhaiiia^ Susquehannah Co., ss. 
"We, the subscribers, associate judges of the 
court of common pleas^ in and for said county, do 
certify that we have been many years personally 
acquainted with Isaac Hale, of Harmony township 
in this county, who has attested the foregoing state- 
ment ; and that he is a man of excellent moral cha- 
racter, and of undoubted veracity. Witness our 
hands. 

" William Thompson. 
" Davis Dimick. 

" March 2lst, 1834. 

" Rev. N. C. Lewis, of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, also certifies and afiirms in relation to Smith 
as follows : — 

" I have been acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr., 
for some time : being a relative of his wife, and re- 
siding near him, I have had frequent opportunities 
of conversation with him, and of knowing his opin- 
ions and pursuits. From my standing in the Me- 
thodist Episcopal Church, I suppose he was careful 
how he conducted or expressed himself before me. 
At one time, however, he came to my house, and 
asked my advice, whether he should proceed to trans- 
late the book of plates (referred to by Mr. Hale) or 
not. He said that God had commanded him to trans- 
late it, but he was afraid of the people : he remark- 
ed, that he was to exhibit the plates to the world, at 
a certain time, which was then about eighteen months 
distant. I told him I v*'as not qualified to give ad- 
vice in such cases. Smith frequently said to me 
that I should see the plates at the time appointed. 

" After the time stipulated had passed away. Smith 
being at my house, was asked why he did not fulfil 
his promise, show the golden plates, and prove him- 
self an honest man ^ He replied, that he, himself, 
was deceived, but that I should see them if I were 
3 



34 MOR3IOXIS3I AXD THE 3IOR3IOXS. 



where they were. I reminded him then, that I 
stated at the time he made the promise, I was fear- 
nil ' the enchantment would be so powerful' as to re- 
move the plates, when the time came in which they 
were to be revealed. 

" These circumstances, and many others of a simi- 
lar tenor, embolden me to say, that Joseph Smith, 
Jr., is not a man of truth and veracity ; and that his 
general character, in this part of the country, is that 
of an impostor, hypocrite, and liar. 

Nathaniel C. Lewis. 
Affirmed and subscribed, before me, March 20th^ 
1834. 

" Charles Dimon, Justice of the peace. 

Yarious other statements of similar import 
were collected in the same vicinity. We sub- 
join the substance of three which develop 
some of the w^orst features of human depravity. 

" Alva Hale, son of Isaac Hale, states, that Joseph 
Smith, Jr., told him that his (Smith's) gift in seeing 
with a stone and hat, ' was a gift from God,' but also 
states 'that Smith told him, at another tim.e, that this 

peepiiig was all d d nonsense. He (Smith) was 

deceived himself, but did not intend to deceive others ; 
that he intended to quit the business, (of peeping,) 
and labour for his livelihood.' That afterward, Smith 
told him he should see the plates from which he 
translated the Book of ?^Iormon, and accordingly, at 
the time specified by Smith, he (Hale) called to see 
the pktes, but Smith did not show them, but appear- 
ed angry. He farther states, that he knows Joseph 
Smith, Jr., to be an impostor, and a liar, and knows 
Martin Harris to be a liar likewise. 

" Levi Lewis states, that he has been acquainted 
with Josepli Smith, Jr., and Martin Harris, and that 
he has heard them both say, adukery was no crime. 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



35 



Harris said i:ie did not blame Smith for his (Smith's) 
attempt to seduce E. W., S:c. Mr. Lewis says 
that he knows Smith to be a liar ; — that he saw him 
(Smith) intoxicated at three different times while he 
was composing the Book of ]\Iormon, and also that 
he has heard Smith, when driving oxen, use language 
of the greatest profanity. Mr. Lewis also testifies, 
that he heard Smith say he (Smith) was as good as 
Jesus Christ ; — that it was as bad to injure him as it 
was to injure Jesus Christ. With regard to the 
plates, Smith said God had deceived him — which 
was the reason he (Smith) did not show them. 

" Sophia Lewis certifies, that she heard a conver- 
sation between Joseph Smith, Jr., and the Rev. 
James B. Roach, in which Smith called Mr. R. a 
d d fool. Smith also said, in the same conver- 
sation, that he (Smith) was as good as Jesus C hrist ; 
and that she has frequently heard Smith use profane 
• language. She states, that she heard Smith say the 
book of plates could not be opened, under penalty of 
death, by any other person but his (Smith's) first- 
born, which was to be a male. She says she was 
present at the birth of this child, and that it was still- 
born, and very much deformed." 

Such men, we are told by the ]\Iormons, were 
divinely appointed to usher in the fulness of the 
gospel. All who will not believe this are to be 
denouTiced as children of the devil, and heirs 
of wratli. 



36 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



CHAPTER IIL 

Sidney Rigdon — Solomon Spalding— The Manuscript 
Found'' proved to be identical with the }»Iormon Bible— 
Spalding's widow — ^Rigdon's retirement at Pittsburgh — 
His subsequent course in Ohio. 

Leaving the prophet and his v/orthy coad- 
jutors ill their employment of peeping and com- 
paring notes on the banks of the Susquehannah, 
we shall now introduce to the- reader an indi- 
vidual hitherto behind the curtain, but who was 
destined to act a prominent part in the farce of 
Mormonism. This is none other than Sidney 
Rigdon, knov/n at that time in the northern 
counties of Ohio as a Campbelite preacher of 
some distinction, and reputed to possess more 
than ordinary shrewdness. By means of this 
latter trait, so much in contrast with the gene- 
ral character of the Smiths, he was enabled to 
keep his preliminary operations chiefly in the 
dark. Nevertheless, a combination of circum- 
stances indicates him to have been the prime 
mover of the whole contrivance, at least as far 
as a religious imposture was concerned. 

The leading features of what has beei^ pub- 
lished to the world, as the Book of Mormon, 
were conceived and written out as early as the 
year 1810, or 1811, by one Solomon Spalding. 
Of the last-mentioned individual we have the 
following account, written by his surviving bro- 
ther, a resident of Crawford county, Pennsyl- 
vania. 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 37 . 



"Solomon Spalding was born in Ashford, Conn., 
in 1761, and in early life contracted a taste for lite- 
rary pursuits. After he left school, he entered Plain- 
field academy, where he made great proficiency in 
study, and excelled most of his class-mates. He 
next commenced the study of law, in Windham 
county, in which he made little progi-ess, having, in 
the mean time, turned his attention to religious sub- 
jects. He soon after entered Dartmouth college, 
with the intention of qualifying himself for the minis- 
try, where he obtained the degree of A. M., and was 
afterward regularly ordained. After preaching three 
or four years, he gave it up, removed to Cherry Val- 
ley, New- York, and commenced the mercantile bu- 
siness, in company with his brother Josiah. In a 
few years he failed in business, and in the year 1809 
removed to Conneaut, in Ohio. The year following 
I removed to Ohio, and found him engaged in build- 
ing a forge. I made him a visit in about three years 
after, and found that he had failed, and was considera- 
bly involved in debt. He then told me he had been 
writing a book, which he intended to have printed, 
the avails of which he thought would enable him to 
pay all his debts. The book was entitled, the ' Man- 
uscript Found,' of which he read to me many pas- 
sages. It was an historical romance of the first set- 
tlers of America, — endeavouring to show that the 
American Indians are the descendants of the Jews, 
or the lost tribes. It gave a detailed account of their 
journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they 
arrived in America, under the command of NEPHI 
and LEHI. They afterward had quarrels and con- 
tentions, and separated into two distinct nations, one 
of which he denominated Nephites, and the other 
Lamanites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which 
great multitudes were slain. They buried their dead 
in large heaps, which caused the mounds so common 



38 



MORMOXIS:.! AXD THE .MORMONS. 



in this country. Their arts, sciences, and civiliza- 
tion were brought into view, in order to account for 
all the curious antiquities, found in various parts of 
North and South America. I have recently read the 
Book of Mormon, and, to my gi'eat surprise, I find 
nearly the same historical matter, nam.es, &c., as 
they were in my brother's writings. I well remem- 
ber that he wrote in the old style, and commenced 
about every sentence with, ' And it came to pass,' or, 
* Now it came to pass,' the same as in the Book of 
Mormon, and, according to the best of my recollec- 
tion and belief, it is the same as my brother Solomon 
wrote, with the exception of the religious matter. — 
By what means it has fallen into the hands of Joseph 
Smith, Jr., I am unable to determine. 

John Spalding. 
" Martha Spalding, the wife of John Spalding, 
says : — 

" I was personally acquainted with Solomon 
Spalding, about twenty years ago. I was at his 
house a short time before he left Conneaut ; he was 
then writing an historical novel, founded upon the first 
settlers of America. He represented them as an en- 
lightened and warlike people. He had for many 
years contended that the aborigines of America were 
the descendants of some of the lost tribes of Israel, 
and this idea he carried out in the book in question. 
The lapse of time, which has intervened, prevents 
my recollecting but few of the leading incidents of 
his writings ; but the names of Nephi and Lehi are 
yet fresh in my memory, as being the principal he- 
roes of his tale. They were ofhcers of the company 
which first came off from Jerusalem. He gave a 
particular account of their journey by land and sea, 
till they arrived in America, after which disputes 
arose between the chiefs, which caused them to se- 
parate into different lands, one of which was called 



MORMOaISM AXD the ^rORMONS. 



39 



Lamanites, and the other Nephites. Between these 
were recounted tremendous battles, which frequently 
covered the ground with the slain ; and their being 
buried in large heaps was the cause of the numerous 
mounds in the country. Some of these people he re- 
presented as being very large. I have read the Book 
of Mormon, which has brought fresh to my recollec- 
tion the writings of Solomon Spalding ; and I have no 
manner of doubt that the historical part of it is the 
same that I read, and heard read, more than twenty 
years ago. The old, obsolete style, and the phrases 
of, 'And it came to pass,' &c., are the same." 

This Solomon Spalding appears to have been, 
like some other authors, exceedingly vain of 
his productions : at least, he exhibited and read 
his principal manuscripts so often to his neigh- 
bours and friends, that they still recollect its 
style and tenor. 

The following coincidences are so striking, 
and so evidently undesigned, that their weight 
must be felt by every ingenuous mind. 

*' Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Sep., 1833. 
" I left the state of New- York, late in the year 
1810, and arrived at this place about the 1st of Jan- 
uary following. Soon after my arrival, I formed a 
partnership with Solomon Spalding, for the purpose 
of rebuilding a forge which he had commenced a 
year or two before. He very frequently read to me 
from a manuscript which he was writing, which he 
entitled, the ' Manuscript Found,' and which he re- 
presented as being found in this town. I spent many 
hours in hearing him read said writings, and became 
well acquainted with their contents. He wished me 
to assist him in getting his production printed, alleg- 
ing that a book of that kind would meet with a rapid 



40 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 

sale. I designed doing so, but the forge not meeting 
our anticipations, we failed in business, when I de- 
clined having any thing to do wdth the publication of 
the book. This book represented the American In- 
dians as the descendants of the lost tribes, — gave an 
account of their leaving Jerusalem, their contentions 
and wars, which were many and great. One time, 
when he was reading to me the tragic account of 
Laban, I pointed out to him what I considered an 
inconsistency, w^hich he promised to correct ; but by 
referring to the book of Mormon, I find, to my sur- 
prise, that it stands there just as he read it to me 
then. Some months ago I borrowed the Golden Bi- 
ble, put it into my pocket, carried it home, and thought 
no more of it. About a week after, my wife found 
the book in my coat pocket, as it hung up, and com- 
menced reading it aloud as I lay upon the bed. She 
had not read twenty minutes till I was astonished to 
find the same passages in it that Spalding had read 
to me more than twenty years before, from his ' Man- 
uscript Found.' Since that, I have more fully exa- 
mined the said Golden Bible, and have no hesitation 
in saying, that the historical part of it is principally, 
if not w^holly, taken from the ' Manuscript Found.' 
I well recollect telling Mr. Spalding, that the so fre- 
quent use of the words, ^ And it came to pass,' ' Now 
it came to pass,' rendered it ridiculous. Spalding 
left here in 1812, and I furnished him the means to 
carry him to Pittsburgh, where he said he would get 
the book printed, and pay me. But I never heard 
any more from him or his writings, till I saw them 
in the Book of Mormon. Henry Lake. 

" Springfield^ Pa., September, 1833. 
" In the year 1811, 1 was in the employ of Henry 
Lake and Solomon Spalding, at Conneaut, engaged 
in rebuilding a forge. While there, I boarded and 
lodged in the family of said Spalding for several 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



41 



months. I was soon introduced to the manuscript 
of Spalding, and perused it as often as I had leisure. 
He had wTitten two or three books or pamphlets on 
different subjects ; but that which more particularly 
drew my attention, was one which he called the 
* Manuscript Found.' From this he would frequently 
read some hum.orous passages to the company pre- 
sent. It purported to be the history of the first set- 
tlement of America, before discovered by Columbus. 
He brought them off from Jerusalem, under their 
leaders ; detailing their travels by land and water, 
their manners, customs, law^s, wars, &c. He said 
that he designed it as an historical novel, and that in 
after years it would be believed by many people as 
much as the history of England. He soon after 
failed in business, and told me he should retire from 
the din of his creditors, finish his book, and have it 
published, which would enable him to pay his debts, 
and support his family. He soon after removed to 
Pittsburgh, as I understood. 

" I have recently examined the Book of Mormon, 
and find in it the writings of Solomon Spalding, from 
beginning to end, but mixed up with Scripture, and 
other religious matter, which I did not meet with in 
the ' Manuscript Found.' Many of the passages in 
the Mormon Book are verbatim from Spalding, and 
others in part. The names of Nephi, Lehi, Moroni, 
and in fact iW the principal names, are brought fresh 
to my recollection by the Gold Bible. When Spal- 
ding divested his history of its fabulous names, by a 
verbal explanation, he landed his people near the 
Straits of Darien, which I am very confident he call- 
ed Zarahemla ; they were marched about that coun- 
try for a length of time, in which wars and great 
bloodshed ensued ; he brought them across North 
America, in a north-east direction. 

" John N. Miller. 



42 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



" Conneaut, August^ 1833. 
" I first became acquainted with Solomon Spalding 
in 1808, or 1809, when he commenced building a 
forge on Conneaut creek. When at his house, one 
day, he showed and read to me a history he was 
writing, of the lost tribes of Israel, purporting that 
they were the first settlers of America, and that the 
Indians were their descendants. Upon this subject 
we had frequent conversations. He traced their 
journey from Jerusalem to America, as it is given in 
the Book of Mormon, excepting the religious matter. 
The historical part of the Book of Mormon I know 
to be the same as I read and heard read from the 
writings of Spalding, more than twenty years ago ; 
the names, more especially, are the same, without 
any alteration. He told me his object was to account 
for all the fortifications, &c., to be found in this coun- 
try, and said that in time it would be fully believed 
by all, except learned men and historians. I once 
anticipated reading his writings in print, but little 
expected to see them in a new Bible. Spalding had 
many other manuscripts, which I expect to see when 
Smith translates his other plate. In conclusion, I 
will observe, that the names of, and most of the his- 
torical part of the Book of Mormon, were as familiar 
to me before I read it, as most modern history. If 
it is not Spalding's writing, it is the same as he 
wrote ; and if Smith was inspired, I think it was by 
the same spirit that Spalding was, which he confess- 
ed to be the love of money. 

" Aaron Wright. 

" Conneaut, August^ 1833. 
" When Solomon Spalding first came to this place, 
he purchased a tract of land, surveyed it oat, and 
commenced selling it. While engaged in this busi- 
ness, he boarded at my house, in all nearly six 
months. All his leisure hours were occupied in 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 43 

writing an historical novel, founded upon the first 
settlers of this country. He said he intended to 
trace their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, 
till their arrival in America, — give an account of 
their arts, sciences, civilization, wars, and conten- 
tions. In this way he w^ould give a satisfactory ac- 
count of all of the old mounds, so commxon to this 
country. During the time he was at my house, I 
read, and heard read one hundred pages or more. 
Nephi and Lehi were by him represented as leading 
characters, w^hen they first started for America. 
Their main object was to escape the judgments which 
they supposed were coming upon the old world. But 
no religious matter was introduced, as I now recol- 
lect. Just before he left this place, Spalding sent 
for me to call on him, which I did. He then said, 
that although he was in my debt, he intended to leave 
the country, and hoped I would not prevent him, for, 
says he, you know I have been writing the history 
of the first settlement of America, and 1 intend to go 
to Pittsburgh, and there live a retired life, till I have 
completed the work, and when it is printed, it will 
bring me a fine sum of money, w^hich will enable me 
to return and pay off all my debts : the book, you 
know, will sell, as every one is anxious to learn 
something upon that subject. This was the last I 
heard of Spalding or his book, until the Book of 
Mormon came into the neighbourhood. When I 
heard the historical part of it related, I at once said 
it was the writing of old Solomon Spalding. Soon 
after I obtained the book, and, on reading it, found 
much of it the same as Spalding had written, more 
than twenty years before. 

" Oliver Sjviith. 
" Conneaut, August, 1833. 
" I first became acquainted with Solomon Spalding 
in Dec, 1810. After that time I frequently saw him 



44 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



at his house, and also at my house. I once, in con- 
versation with him, expressed a surprise at not hav- 
ing any account of the inhabitants once in this coun- 
try, who erected the old forts, mounds, &c. He 
then told me that he was writing a history of that 
race of people ; and afterward frequently showed me 
his writings, which I read. I have lately read the 
Book of Mormon, and believe it to be the same as 
Spalding wrote, except the religious part. He told 
me that he intended to get his writings published in 
Pittsburgh, and he thought that in one century from 
that time it would be believed as much as any other 
history. Nahum Howard. 

" Artemus Cunningham, of Perry, Geauga county, 
states as follows : — 

"In the month of October, 1811, I went from 
the township of Madison to Conneaut, for the pur- 
pose of securing a debt due me from Solomon Spal- 
ding. I tarried with him nearly two days, for the 
purpose of accomplishing my object, which I was 
finally unable to do. I found him destitute of the 
means of paying his debts. His only hope of ever 
paying his debts, appeared to be upon the sale of a 
book which he had been writing. He endeavoured 
to convince me, from the nature and character of the 
work, that it would meet with a ready sale. Before 
showing me his manuscripts, he went into a verbal 
relation of its outlines, saying, that it was a fabulous 
or romantic history of the first settlement of this 
country, and as it purported to have been a record 
found buried in the earth, or in a cave, he had adopt- 
ed the ancient, or Scripture style of writing. He 
then presented his manuscripts, when we sat down 
and spent a good share of the night in reading them, 
and conversing upon them. I well remember the 
name of Nephi, who appeared to be the principal hero 
of the story. The frequent repetition of the phrase. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



45 



^ I Nephi,' I recollect as distinctly as though it was 
but yesterday, although the general features of the 
story have passed from my memory, through the 
lapse of twenty-two years. He attempted to account 
for the numerous antiquities which are found upon 
this continent, and remarked, that after this genera- 
tion had passed away, his account of the first inha- 
bitants of America would be considered as authentic 
as any other history. The Mormon Bible I have 
partially examined, and am fully of the opinion that 
Solomon Spalding had written its outlines before he 
left Conneaut." 

The reader will now desire to know by what 
process the " Manuscript Found" came mto the 
hands of Rigdon, and, after having been reno- 
vated, interpolated, and rigged out to suit his 
plan, was transferred to the hands of a noted 
money-digger at a distance from the place where 
it was designed more especially to operate, in 
order to be got up'' in a miraculous manner. 
The latter part of this process, viz., the trans- 
fer, was so easy and practicable, that any one 
may comprehend it by a moment's reflection, 
although not demonstrated by positive evidence. 
We think, moreover, that the former part is 
made very clear, by the facts which !Mr. Howe 
has collected. 

In order to ascertain what disposition Spal- 
ding made of his manuscripts, he sent a mes- 
senger to look up said Spalding's widow, who 
still survived. From her it was ascertained that 
the family, after removing from Ohio, resided 
about two years in Pittsburgh, and subsequent- 
ly went to Amity, Pennsylvania, where the 



46 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



author died in 1816. His widow then removed 
to Onondaga county, New-York, married again, 
subsequently lived in Otsego county, and thence 
removed to Massachusetts , where she was 
found. 

She stated that Spalding had a great variety 
of MANUSCRIPTS, oue of which she recollected 
was entitled, the Manuscript Found." While 
they lived in Pittsburgh, it was taken, she be- 
lieved, to the printing-office of Patterson and 
Lambdin, but v/hether it was ever brought back 
to the house again, she was quite uncertain. 
If it was, however, it must still be in a trunk 
with his other writings, which she had left in 
Otsego county, New-York. 

The trunk, referred to by the widow, was sub- 
sequently examined, and found to contain only a sin- 
gle manuscript book, in Spalding's hand-writing, 
containing about one quire of paper. This is a ro- 
mance, purporting to have been translated from the 
Latin, found on twenty-four rolls of parchment in a 
cave, on the banks of Conneaut creek, but witten 
in modern style, and giving a fabulous account of a 
ship being driven upon the American coast, while 
proceeding from Rome to Britain, a short time pre- 
vious to the Christian era, this country then being 
inhabited by the Indians. This old manuscript has 
been shown to several of the foregoing witnesses, 
who recognise it as Spalding's, he having told them 
that he had altered his first plan of writing, by going 
further back with dates, and Vv'riting in the old Scrip- 
ture style, in order that it might appear more ancient. 
They say that it hears no resemblance to the ' Man- 
y script Foxmd." " 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



47 



Recourse was now had to the firm of Pat- 
terson and Lambdin, in Pittsburgh ; but here 
death had interposed a barrier to full inquiry, 

" That establishment was dissolved and broken up 
many years since, and Lambdin died about eight 
years ago. Mr. Patterson said he had no recollec- 
tion of any such manuscript being brought there for 
publication, neither would he have been likely to have 
seen it, as the business of printing was conducted 
wholly by Lambdin at that time. He says, how- 
ever, that many manuscript books and pamphlets 
were brought to the office about that time, which re- 
mained upon their shelves for years, without being 
printed, or even examined. Now, as Spalding's 
book can nowhere be found, or any thing heard of 
it after being carried to this establishment, there is 
the strongest presumption that it remained there in 
seclusion, till about the year 1823, or 1824, at which 
time Sidney Rigdon located himself in that city. 
We have been credibly informed that he was on 
terms of intimacy with Lambdin, being seen fre- 
quently in his shop. Rigdon resided in Pittsburgh 
about three years, and during the whole of that time, 
as he has since frequently asserted, abandoned 
preaching and all other employment, for the purpose 
of studying the Bible. He left there, and came into 
Geauga county, Ohio, about the time Lambdin died, 
and commen-ced preaching some new points of doc- 
trine, which were afterward found to be inculcated 
in the Mormon Bible. He resided in this vicinity 
about four years previous to the appearance of the 
book, during which time he made several long visits 
to Pittsburgh, and perhaps to the Susquehannah, 
where Smith was then digging for money, or pre- 
tending to be translating plates. It may be observed, 
also, that about the time Rigdon left Pittsburgh, the 



48 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



Smith family began to tell about finding a book that 
would contain a history of the first inhabitants of 
America, and that two years elapsed before they 
finally got possession of it. 

We are, then, irresistibly led to this conclusion, 
that Lambdin, after having failed in business, had 
recourse to the old manuscripts then in his posses- 
sion, in order to raise the wind, by a book specula- 
tion, and placed the ' Manuscript Found,' of Spalding, 
in the hands of Rigdon, to be embellished, altered, 
and added to, as he might think expedient ; and three 
years' study of the Bible we should deem little time 
enough to garble it, as it is transferred to the Mor- 
mon book. The former dying, left the latter the 
sole proprietor, who was obliged to resort to his wits, 
and in a miraculous way to bring it before the world ; 
for in no other manner could such a book be publish- 
ed without great sacrifice. And where could a more 
suitable character be found than Jo Smith, w^hose 
necromantic fame, and arts of deception, had already 
extended to a considerable distance '? That Lambdin 
was a person every way qualified and fitted for such 
an enterprise, we have the testimony of his partner 
in business, and others of his acquaintance. The 
whole mystery of this affair is solved by adding to 
these circumstances the facts, that Rigdon had pre- 
pared the minds, in a great measure, of nearly a hun- 
dred of those who had attended his ministration to be 
in readiness to embrace the first mysterious ism that 
should be presented — the appearance of Cowdery at 
his residence as soon as the book was printed — his 
sudden conversion, after many pretensions to disbe- 
lieve it — his immediately repairing to the residence 
of Smith, three hundred miles distant, where he was 
forthwith appointed an elder, high-priest, and a scribe 
to the prophet— the pretended vision that his resi- 
dence in Ohio was the ' promised land,' and the im- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



49 



mediate removal of the whole Smith family thither, 
where they were soon raised from a state of poverty 
to comparative affluence," 



CHAPTER IV. 

Th« Book of Mormon published- — ^Testimony of the 
witnesses — Cross examination — Contents of the book. 

After the preceding exhibition of " means 
and appliances to boot," it appears in no way 
wonderful that the Mormon Bible at length 
issued from the press. 

Such, however, were the external and the 
internal evidences of its forgery, that the spec- 
ulation could not be ventured without solemn 
certificates, averring it to be a revelation, 
communicated by angels, through the medium 
of certain plates having the appearance of gold. 
The title-page was embellished with this de- 
claration : — The Book of Mormon, &c., by Jo- 
seph Smith, Jr., Author and Proprietor, 
which was duly confirmed by a certificate of 
copyright, under the hand and seal of R. R. 
Lansing, clerk of the northern district of New- 
York. In flat contradiction to this claim of 
author and proprietorship, were the following 
testimonies at the conclusion. 

" The testimony of three witnesses. — Be it known 
unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto 
whom this \vork shall come, that we, through the 
grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 
4 



LO MORMOMSM AND THE MORHOSS. 

have seen the plates which contain this record, which 
is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the 
Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of 
Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been 
spoken ; and w^e also know that they have been trans- 
lated by the ^ift and pov/er of God, for his voice hath 
declared it unto us : wherefore we know, of a surety^ 
that the work is true. And we also testify, that we 
have seen the engravings which are upon the plates : 
and they have been shown unto us by the power of 
God, and not of man. And w^e declare, with w^ords 
of soberness, that an angel of God came dow^n from 
heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that 
we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings 
thereon ; and we know that it is by the grace of God 
the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we be= 
held and bear record that these things are true ; and 
it is marvellous in our eyes ; nevertheless, the voice 
of the Lord commanded us that we should bear re- 
cord of it ; wherefore, to be obedient unto the com- 
mandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. 
And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, w^e 
shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be 
found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, 
and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. 
And the honour be to the Father, and to the Son, and 
to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. 

" Oliver Cowdery, 
*' David Whitmer, 
" Martin Harris." • 

" And also the testimony of eight witnesses. — Be 
it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peo- 
ple, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph 
Smith, Jr., the translator of this work, has shown 
unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which 
have the appearance of gold ; and as many of the 
leaves as the said Smith has translated, we did han- 



MORMOMSM AND THE MORilONS. 5i 

die with our hands : and we also saw the engravings 
thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient 
work, and of curious work in an ship. And this we 
bear record with words of soberness, that the said 
Smith has show\n unto us, for we have seen and 
hefted, and know, of a surety, that the said Smith 
has got the plates of which we have spoken. And 
we give our names unto the world to, witness unto 
the world that which we have seen ; and we lie not, 
God bearing witness of it. 

" Christian Whitmer, 

" Jacob Whitmer, 
Peter \Yhitmer, Jr., 
John Whitmer, 

" Hiram Page, 
Joseph Smith, Sen., 
Hyrum Smith, 

" Samuel H. Smith.'' 

As these certificates constitute the entire evi- 
dence of the divine authenticity of the book in 
question, as they have often been recited in 
large congregations, and as they are still ap- 
pealed to in proof of the same, they deserve a 
patient examination. 

If we could for once suppose these indi- 
viduals to have been honest, disinterested, and 
credible men, yet the vagueness and contradic- 
tory nature of their statements w^ould render 
their testimony exceedingly suspicious. Leav- 
ing out formal and deceptive redundancies, the 
w^hole of the testimony of three witnesses is 
reduced to these particulars : — 1. We have 
seen the plates whicli contain this record. 
2. We know that they have been translated by 



52 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

the power of God. 3. Also we have seen the 
engravings which are upon the plates ; and, 
4. They have been shown unto us by the power 
of God, and not of man. 5. An angel of God 
came down from heaven and brought (what ?) 
and laid before our eyes. 

071 this we remark — 1. That these men may 
have seen plates is very possible ; but in order 
to know that said plates contained a given re- 
cord, they must have been able to understand 
their contents, and have had opportunity to 
compare them with said record. 

It is not pretended, however, that they had 
either such ability or opportunity, but the con- 
trary :— consequently they knew not whereof 
they affirmed. 

2. If they understood not the contents, how 
could they know that there had been any trans- 
lation at all, not to say a correct or divinely- 
assisted one ? The reason given is, " for his 
[God's] voice hath declared it unto us." We 
are not told whether to understand this literally 
or figuratively ; whether said voice was heard 
by them individually or collectively, sleeping 
or waking, or how they knew it was from God ; 
and hence every rational mind will discredit 
the whole statement. 

3. It had previously been stated that the 
plates had been translated. What need then 
of such special interposition to show the e?i- 
gravings upon the plates, since the witnesses 
do not assert that these were translated ? 

The 4th particular is equally destitute of 



MORMONISM AND THE 3I0RM0XS, 



53 



certainty and plausibility. The oth betrays a 
most puerile and trickish attempt at deceit. 
As to the subsequent flourish respecting the 
truth of these things," it is so ambiguous, that 
no one knows whether to apply it to the par- 
ticulars here enumerated, or to those contained 
in the book, all of which are alike destitute of 
foundation. 

The testimony of eight witnesses is very dif- 
ferent from the preceding. According to this, 
all that before required " the voice of God," the 
descent of " an angel of God from heaven," yea, 
all that was shown to the three " by the power 
of God, and not of man," is here exhibited to 
eight by " Joseph Smith, Jr., translator of this 
w^ork." Still more, he goes further than either 
God or the angel, and suffers the plates to be 
handled with hands. 

That Smith showed them plates, which, to 
ignorant men had the appearance of gold, is 
easy enough to be believed ; and if he had 
manufactured the same, it would have been no 
great stretch of ingenuity. But how could they 
know that they had handled and hefted as many 
of the leaves as said Smith translated ? Cer- 
tainly on no other ground than his " say so," 
which is good for nothing. 

But if of a surety Jo had " got" these plates, 
and, as he pretended, had had them two or 
three years in a box, how could they have got 
up to heaven, whence Cowdery and Harris 
aver that an anorel came down to brino- them, 
and lay before their eyes ^ Minor discrepan- 



54 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS, 



cies aad grammatical blunders we cannot pause 
to notice. 

Now on the supposition that this testimony (!) 
did not fully contradict, and, beyond remedy, 
destroy itself, it would be rendered suspicious 
by being unaccompanied with date of either 
time or place, and by not having been deposed 
in legal form. Suspicion would be increased 
by observing, that out of eleven witnesses, five 
are Whitmers, and three are Smiths, belong- 
ing to two families. 

Finally, waiving every other consideration, 
since these individuals have presumed to chal- 
lenge the attention of all " nations, kindreds, 
tongues, and people" to the wretched humbug 
they have attempted to palm off upon the world, 
we have thought proper to submit above, to all, 
as far as these presents may come, a legal and 
an incontestable impeachment of their charac- 
ter and veracity, such as before a jury, in any 
civilized country, would render their testimony 
null and void, even though it were intelligible 
and disinterested. One of these two conclu- 
sions appears to us irresistible, — either these 
witnesses were grossly deceived by a lying 
prophet, or else they wickedly and wilfully 
perjured themselves, by swearing to what they 
knew to be false. 

The former, although not very creditable to 
their good sense, is yet the more charitable 
opinion, and is rendered probable by the fact, 
that hundreds have been deceived in the same 
way. It is confirmed, moreover, by the well- 



MORMONittM AND THE MORMONS, 55 

known mental phenomenon, that to individuals 
accustomed to disregard the laws of veracity, 
truth and falsehood are alike. They can as 
easily persuade themselves of the one as of the 
other. This fact is as notorious respecting the 
" yarns of the forecastle," as it is manifest in 
the tales and witchery of the money-diggers. 
But the awful crime of perjury has been com- 
mitted among men. And if probable subjects 
for its repetition could be anywhere found, 
where should we expect to meet them sooner, 
than among such as were about to run the fear- 
ful hazard of the plagues denounced against 
any man who should presume to add to the re- 
velation of God ? 

Men who could deny adultery to be a crime, 
and who could be guilty of the blasphemy of 
pretending to utter the voice of the Almighty, 
upon any trivial occasion, which suited such 
pretence to their interest, could not have had 
the f#ar of God before their eyes, and must have 
been instigated by the devil. That the tempo- 
ral interests of these witnesses were pending, 
and were actually advanced by this step, will 
soon appear. 

In order to give a consecutive, although a 
very abridged account of the spread of the de- 
lusion, we forego an examination of the pre- 
tended Bible for the present, merely subjoining 
an index to its contents, that we have drawn up 
from the edition before us. 

This table will serve to explain the refer- 
ences to the hook, which occur in our narra- 



56 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMOXSv 



tive, and is recommended as- worthy of hemg 
incorporated in the next edition of that work, 
for the convenience of its readers. 

CONTENTS OF THE BOOK OF MORMON. 



The first book of Nephi contains 7 chap's^ 

The second book of Nephi, , 15 
The book of Jacob, the brother 

of Nephi, . , . . 5 

The book of Enos, . , • 1 

The book of Jarom^ » . . 1 

The book of Omni, , . • 1 

The words of Mormon, • • 1 

The book of Mosiah, . . 13 

The book of Alma, ... 30 

The book of HelanKHi, . . 5 
The book of Nephi, who was the 

son of Helamon, . . .14 
The book of Nephi, who is the son 

of Nephi, one of the disciples of 

Jesus Christ, . . . 1 ^ 

Book of Mormon, . . ► 4 

Book of Ether, ... 6 

The book of Moroni, . . 10 



Note. — Thus we have fifteen books, which 
contain one hundred and fifteen chapters. Only 
a few of either are preceded by any summary 
of topics. Such summaries as we find will now 
be copied verbatim. 



M0RM0NIS3I AND THE MORMONS. 57 



THE FIRST BOOK OF XEPHI : 
HIS REIGX AND MINISTRY. 

Chapter I. — An account of Lehi and his wife, Sa- 
riah, and his four sons, being called (beginning at the 
eldest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Xephi. The Lord 
warns Lehi to depart out of the land of Jerusalem, 
because he prophesieth unto the people concerning 
their iniquity : and they seek to destroy his life. He 
taketh three days' journey into the wilderness with 
his family. Nephi taketh his brethren, and returns 
to the land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews. 
The account of their sufferings. They take the daugh- 
ters of Ishmael to wife. They take their families, 
and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and 
afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their 
travels. They come to the large waters. Xephi's 
brethren rebelleth against him. He confoundeth 
them, and buildeth a ship. They call the name of 
the place Bountiful. They cross the large waters 
into the promised lafld, &c. This is according to the 
account of Xephi ; or, in other words, I, Nephi, 
wrote this record. 

THE SECOND BOOK OF NEPHI. 

Chapter I. — An account of the death of Lehi. 
Nephi's brethren rebelleth against him. The Lord 
warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His 
journeyings in the wilderness, &c. 

THE BOOK OF JACOB, THE BROTHER OF NEPHI. 

Chapter I. — The words of his preaching unto his 
brethren. He confoundeth a man who seeketh to 
overthrow the doctrine of Christ.* A few words 
concerning the history of the people of Nephi. 

^ At lea-t .500 B. C 



58 MORMONiSM AND THE MORMONS. 



BOOK OF MOSIAH. 
CHAPTER VI. 
THE RECORD OP ZENIFP. 

An account of his people, from the time they left 
the land of Zarahemla, until the time that they were 
delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites. 

THE BOOK OF ALMA, 
THE SON OF ALMA. 

Chapter I. — The account of Alma, who was the 
son of Alma the first, and chief judge over the peo- 
ple of Nephi, and also the high priest over the church. 
An account of the reign of the judges, and the wars 
and contentions among the people. And also an ac- 
count of a war between the Nephites and the Laman- 
ites, according to the record of Alma the first, and 
chief judge. 

Chapter XII. — An account of the sons of Mosiah, 
who rejected their rights to the kingdom, for the word 
of God, and went up to the land of Nephi, to preach 
to the Lamanites. Their sufferings and deliverance, 
according to the record of Alma. 

Chapter XIII. — An account of the preaching of 
Aaron and Muloki, and their brethren, to the La- 
manites. 

Chapter XXI. — The account of the people of 
Nephi, and their wars and dissensions, in the days 
of H el am an, according to the record of Helaman, 
which he kept in his days. 

THE BOOK OF HELAMAN. 

Chapter I. — An account of the Nephites. Their 
wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



59 



also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the 
coming of Christ, according to the record of Hela- 
man, who was the son of Helaman, and also accord- 
ing to the records of his sons, even down to the coming 
of Christ. And also many of the Lamanites are con- 
verted. An account of their conversion. An ac- 
count of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the 
wickedness and abominations of the Nephites, ac- 
cording to the record of Helaman and his sons, even 
down to the coming of Christ, which is called the 
book of Helaman, &c. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE PROPHECY OF NEPHI, 
THE SON OF HELAMAN. 

God threatens the people of Nephi, that he will 
visit them in his anger, to their utter destruction, 
except they repent of their wickedness. God smiteth 
the people of Nephi wdth pestilence ; they repent and 
turn unto him. Samuel, a Lamanite, prophesies unto 
the Nephites. 

THE BOOK OF NEPHI, THE SON OF NEPHI, 

WHO WAS THE SON OF HELAMAN. 

Chapter L — And Helaman was the son of Hela- 
man, who was the son of Alma, who was the son of 
Alma, being a descendant of Nephi, who was the son 
of Lehi, who came out of Jerusalem in the first year 
of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah. 

Chapter V. — Jesus Christ sheweth himself unto 
the people of Nephi, as the multitude were gathered 
together in the land Bountiful, and did minister unto 
them : and on this wise did he shew himself unto 
them. 



60 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



Our own humble opinion is, that just as much 
correct knowledge and real information may be 
drawn from the above nondescript and hetero- 
geneous medley of contents, as from a perusal 
of the entire volume of five hundred and seventy 
pages. But more anon. 



CHAPTER V. 

P. P. Pratt makes his appearance in Ontario county — 
He is forthwith converted and ordained — Mission to. the 
Lamanites — Smith's wife constituted amanuensis — Easy 
method of getting a revelation — Lamanites found in 
Ohio — Rigdon's conversion — Pratt's denial of the con- 
trivance examined. 

Before this ghostly work issued from the 
press, numbers were already on the qui vive 
for its reception. The term Golden Bible, which 
had been thrown out in the rumours set afloat 
respecting it, was too well adapted, both to the 
cupidity and the marvellousness of this money- 
making age, not to excite great expectations on 
the part of the ignorant and the fanatical. 

Nevertheless, it does not appear that many 
were added to the company of those primarily 
initiated, until after the principal seat of opera- 
tions was transferred to Ohio. It is interesting 
to observe how miraculously this event was 
brought about. " It came to pass," not long 
after the publication of the Book of Mormon, 
that a man named Pratt, an intimate acquaint- 
ance of Sidney Rigdon, and a convert to his 



M0RM0NI8M AND THE MORMONS. 61 

doctrines, made his appesrance in the neigh- 
bourhood of the Smiths. This person, in a 
very short time, became a disciple to Mormon- 
ism, and a teacher of its dogmas. He was, 
indeed, so promising a convert, as almost im- 
mediately to deserve and receive a commission 
to proceed westward on a pretended mission to 
the Indians. This expedition ^vas fitted out 
under the nominal direction of Oliver Cowdery, 
to whom the following was furnished by Smith. 

A REVELATION UNTO OLIVER, GIVEN SEPTEM- 
BER, 1830. 

" Behold, T say unto you Oliver, that it shall be 
given thee, that thou shalt be heard by the church in 
all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the 
Comforter, concerning the revelations and command- 
ments which I have given. But, verily, verily, I say 
unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive com- 
mandments and revelations in the church, excepting 
my servant Joseph, for he receiveth them even as 
Moses, and thou shalt be obedient unto the things 
which T shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to de- 
clare faithfully the commandments and revelations, 
with power and authority unto the church. And if 
thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or 
teach, or at all times by the way of commandment 
unto the church, thou mayest do it ; but shall not 
write by way of commandment, but by wisdom : and 
thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and 
at the head of the church ; for I have given him the 
keys of the mysteries of the revelations which are 
sealed, until I shall appoint unto him another in his 
stead — and now, behold, I say unto you, that thou 
shalt go unto the Lamanites, and preach my gospel 
unto them ; and thv)u shalt have revelations, but write 



62 



M0KM0NI«3I AND THE MOKMONS. 



them not by way of commandment. And now I say 
unto yon, that it is not revealed, and no man know- 
eth where the city shall be built, but it shall be rriven 
hereafter. Behold, I say unto you, that it shall be 
among the Lamanites, Thou shalt not leave this 
place until after the conference, and my servant Jo- 
seph shall be appointed to rule the conference, by the 
voice of it ; and what he saith unto thee, that thou shalt 
tell. And again, thou shalt take thy brother Hyrum 
between him and thee alone, and tell him that these 
things which he hath written from that stone, are not 
of me, and that Satan hath deceived him, for these 
things have not been appointed unto him, neither 
shall any thing be appointed to any in this church, 
contrary to the church covenant, for all things must 
be done in order, and by commandment, by the prayer 
of faith, and thou shalt settle all these things before 
thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites ; 
and it shall be given from time to time, that thou 
shalt go, until the time that thou shalt return, what 
thou shalt do ; and thou must open thy mouth at all 
times, declaring my gospel with the sound of rejoic- 
ing. Amen." 

The above document is chiefly remarkable, 
as being the first of a series of pretended reve- 
lations. 

It shows, moreover, 1. That migration west- 
ward was already anticipated. 2. The narrow- 
mindedness of Smith, who was growing jealous 
of rivalry, both from Cowdery and from his 
brother Hyrum, who found it no great task to 
do as Joseph had done, viz., to write things 
from " that stone," which were not of God. 
3. Jo assumes the prerogative of revelation for 
life, or at least ad libitum. 



MOKMOMSM AND THE MORMONS. 



63 



Cowdery had been the principal amanuensis 
hitherto, and having been a schoolmaster, it is 
presumed that his pedigogical talents found 
ample scope, as well in giving lessons to " the 
author," as in transcribing the book, since 
Smith's followers assured Mr. Howe that the 
prophet could not write his own name at the 
time he was chosen of the Lord," Be that 
as it may, after two or three years' tuition and 
practice he deemed himself qualified to proceed, 
without any further assistance in this depart- 
ment than that of his own better half. His idea 
of self-aggrandizement was now so expanded 
as to take in his family. Witness the follow- 
ing revelation, commanding his wife " not to 
work, but to be supported from the church." 

"A commandment to Emma, my daughter in Zion, 
A. D., 1830. — A revelation I give unto you concern- 
ing my will. Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and 
thou art an elect lady, whom I have called. Murmur 
not because of the things which thou hast seen, for 
they are withheld from thee and from the world, 
which is wisdom in me in a time to come ; and the 
office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto my 
servant Joseph, thy husband, in his afflictions, with 
consoling words in the spirit of meekness ; and thou 
shalt go with him at the time of his going, and be 
unto him a scribe^ that I may send Oliver whitherso- 
ever I will : and thou shalt be ordained under his 
hand to expound the Scripture, and to exhort the 
church, according as it shall be given thee by my 
Spirit, for he shall lay his hands upon thee, and thou 
shalt receive the Holy Ghost ; and thy time shall be 
given to writing and to learning much ; and thou 



64 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



needst not fear, for thy husband shall support thee 
from the church, for unto them is his calling, that all 
things might be revealed unto them, whatsoever I 
will, according to their faith ; and verily I say unto 
thee, that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, 
and seek for the things of a better ; and it shall be 
given thee also to make a selection of sacred hymns, 
as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, 
to be had in my church, for my soul delights in the 
song of the heart, yea, the song of the righteous is a 
prayer unto me, and it shall be ansv/ered with a bless- 
ing upon their heads ; wherefore lift up thy heart, and 
rejoice, and cleave unto the covenant which thou hast 
made — continue in the spirit of meekness — let thy 
soul delight in thy husband, and the glory which shall 
come upon him — -keep my commandments continu- 
ally, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive ; 
and except thou do this, where I am ye cannot come ; 
and verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto 
all. Amen.'' 

It is stated, that from this time neither spec- 
tacles nor " peep-stone" were used in order to 
obtain a revelation, but, when one was wanted, 
it came to the prophet, who received and uttered 
the same with his eyes shut. A sufficient 
amount of faith to receive every thing thus ut- 
tered as directly and positively from God, was 
the prime condition of discipleship. In fact, 
the Mormons have alw^ays been taught, that to 
question or to doubt the divine authority of these 
communications, was to endanger their salva- 
tion. 

The mission extraordinary to the Lamanites 
at length started, composed of Cowdery, Pratt, 
Peterson, and Whitmer. Under the direction 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



65 



of Pratt, they had no difficulty in calling on 
Rigdon by the way. Here they made a halt, 
and " professed to rejoice at finding a people 
walking according to the Scriptures." 

For Rigdon to have acknowledged them at 
once, would have been to develop the plot too 
soon. He must needs come into the light by 
degrees, if not miraculously ; wherefore, on 
first reading the Mormon book, like a sensible 
man, he pronounced it " a silly fabrication." 

" Near his residence, in Kirtland, there had been, 
for some time previous, a few families belonging to 
his congregation, who had formed themselves into a 
common-stock society, and had become considerably 
fanatical, and were daily looking for some wonderful 
event to take place in the world. Their minds had 
become fully prepared to embrace Mormonism, or 
any other mysterious ism that should first present it- 
self. Seventeen in number, of these persons, readily 
believed the whole stor)^ of Cowdery, about the find- 
ing of the golden plates and the spectacles. They 
were all reimmersed, in one night, by Cowdery. At 
this, Rigdon seemed much displeased, and when the 
Mormons came, next day, to his house, he told them 
that what they had done was entirely without prece- 
dent or authority, from the Scriptures — for they had 
immersed those persons that they might work mira- 
cles, as well as come under their new covenant — 
showed them that the apostles baptized for the remis- 
sion of sins, instead of miraculous gifts. But when 
pressed upon the point, they said it was done merely 
at the solicitation of those persons. Rigdon called 
upon them for proofs of the truth of their book and 
mission : they then related the manner in which they 
obtained faith, which was by praying for a sign, and 
5 ' 



66 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMOx^S. 



an angel was showed unto them. Rigdon here show- 
ed them, from Scripture, the possibility of their being 
deceived ; * for Satan himself is transformed into an 
angel of light.' ' But,' said Cowdery, ' do you think 
if I should go to my heavenly Father, with all sin- 
cerity, and pray to him, in the name of Jesus Christ, 
that he would not show me an angel ; that he would 
suffer Satan to deceive me ]' Rigdon replied, ' If the 
heavenly Father has ever promised to show you an 
angel, to confirm any thing, he would not suffer you 
to be deceived, for, says John, This is the confidence 
we have with him, if we ask things according to his 
will, he hearkens to us.' ' But,' he continued, ' if you 
should ask the heavenly Father to show you an an- 
gel, when he has never promised you such a thing, 
if the devil never had an opportunity of deceiving 
you before, you give him one now.' 

However, about two days after this, Rigdon was 
persuaded to tempt God, by asking this sign, which 
he knew to be contrary to his revealed will : he of 
course received a sign, and was convinced thatMor- 
monism was true and divine. According to his own 
reasoning, therefore, the devil appeared to him as an 
angel of light ; but he now imputed his former rea- 
soning to pride, incredulity, and the influence of the 
evil one." 

Respecting the honesty of this pretended 
conversion, the reader is now prepared to judge, 
although additional light will be thrown upon it 
by subsequent facts. It is not claimed that we 
have any thing more than circumstantial evi- 
dence to prove it to have been part of a pre- 
concerted scheme, but it is claimed that such a 
train of circumstances, as has been developed 
respecting this matter, utters a testimony infi- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 67 

iiitely more credible than all that has been 
affirmed by the three witnesses, and the eight. 
Their siory could easily have been fabricated. 
Mere accident, on the other hand, could never 
have linked together such peculiar circum- 
stances. They are so manifest, indeed, that 
the most studied caution seems to have been 
in vain used, to mask the duplicity of the trans- 
action. The only attempt we have seen to 
show this view of the affair incorrect, is from 
the pen of P. P. Pratt himself, who certainly 
ought to be able to show the falsehood of what 
he calls " the Spalding lie," if a lie it be. We 
subjoin his own words : — For the sake of the 
honest in heart, who love the truth, I here offer 
my testimony on this subject, as I was a per- 
sonal actor in the scenes which brought S. Rig- 
don into an acquaintance with the Book of Mor- 
mon, and into connection with the church of 
Latter-day Saints." He here proceeds to nar- 
rate the circumstances in which he first became 
acquainted with Rigdon, and a believer in, and 
a teacher of, the same doctrine — Campbellism. 

" After proclaiming those principles in my 
own neighbourhood, and the adjoining country, 
I at length took a journey to the state of New- 
York, partly on a visit to Columbia county, and 
partly for the purpose of administering the 
word. This journey was undertaken in Aug., 
1830. I had no sooner reached Ontario county, 
than I came in contact with the Book of Mor- 
mon, which had then been published about six 
months, and had gathered about fifty disciples, 



68 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 



which were all that then constituted the church 
of Latter-day Saints. (That name was not 
adopted till some years after.) I was greatly 
prejudiced against the book, but remembering 
the caution of Paul, ' Prove all things, and hold 
fast that which is good,' I sat down to read it, 
and after carefully comparing it with the other 
Scriptu7'es, and praying to God, he gave me 
knowledge of its truth, by the power of the 
Holy Ghost ; and what was I, that I should 
withstand God ? I accordingly obeyed the or- 
dinances, and was commissioned by revelation, 
and the laying on of hands, to preach the ful- 
ness of the gospel. Then, after finishing my 
visit to Columbia county, I returned to the 
brethren in Ontario county, when, for the first 
time, I saw Mr. Joseph Smith, Jr., who had 
just returned from Pennsylvania to his father's 
house in Manchester. About the 15th of Oc- 
tober, 1830, I took my journey, in company 
with Elder O. Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, to 
Ohio. We called on Elder S. Rigdon, and 
ihe7i, for the j^r^^ time, his eyes beheld the Book 
of Mormon. I myself had the happiness to 
present it to him in person (!) He was much 
surprised, and it was with much persuasion and 
argument that he was prevailed on to read 

55 * # -* * * 

" Now I testify, that the forgers of the Spal- 
ding lie (concerning S. Rigdon and others) are 
of the same description as those who forged the 
lie against the disciples of old, accusing them 
of stealing the body of Jesus. And those who 



M0RM0XIS3I AND THE MORMONS. 



69 



love this lie are no better ; and except they 
repent they will have their part with drunk- 
ards, whoremongers, sorcerers, thieves, mur- 
derers, &c., for being guilty of loving and 
making a lie." * * * * * 

In remarking upon the above exposition, for 
it cannot be considered a refutation of the views 
expressed concerning this transaction, one can- 
not fail to observe the singularity of the circum- 
stance, that a traveller, merely passing through 
western New-York, should come in contact 
with the then little company of Mormons, who 
were not located upon either of the great tho- 
roughfares of travel. His unceremonious con- 
version, and his prompt investment with the 
priesthood, are equally remarkable. It is not 
necessary to doubt that Rigdon's eyes first be- 
held the Book of Mormon when shown him by 
Pratt. It has generally been supposed, that 
having arranged the manuscript to his liking, 
he transferred the task of copying and bringing 
it through the press entirely to Smith and Cow- 
dery. Nor is this view of the case even con- 
tradicted, much less shown to be false, by what 
Pratt has said. 

His cruel denunciation of those who love the 
truth so well as to give their credence to the 
complete series of circumstantial evidence ex- 
hibited above, rather than to the vaorue and un- 
satisfactory denial of one who must either have 
been a party to the plot, or the tool of its exe- 
cution, could only have been called for by the 
want of something better to say. It is, how- 



70 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



ever, in good keeping with the generality of 
Mormon arguments. 

But how can Mr. Pratt testify that any per- 
sons of the present day are " of the same de- 
scription" as the Jewish high priests, and the 
Roman soldiers, who conspired together to say 
that the body of Jesus was stolen 1 If he can 
prove their identity, his testimony is needless. 
If he cannot, and he certainly has failed to do 
it, then his testimony must be regarded as false, 
or, at any rate, as the echo of zeal without 
knowledge. 



CHAPTER VL 

Early developments in Ohio — Rigdon visits Smith — 
Becomes prime coadjutor — Revelation — Kirtland becomes 
the land of promise — Spirit of the new religion — Proper 
signification and character of Mormonism — Bugbear sto- 
ries — Financial policy — The gift of tongues. 

" On the conversion of Rigdon, a most successful 
starting point was thought to have been obtained. 
Cowdery and his associates then began to develop 
the peculiarities of the new imposition. Scenes of 
the most wild, frantic, and horrible fanaticism ensued. 
They pretended that the power of miracles was about 
to be given to all those who embraced the new faith, 
and commenced communicating the Holy Spirit, by 
laying their hands upon the heads of the converts, 
which operation, at first, produced an instantaneous 
prostration of body and mind. Many would fall upon 
the floor, where they would lie for a long time, appa- 
rently lifeless. They thus continued these enthusi- 
astic exhibitions for several weeks. The fits usually 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



71 



came on during, ov after their prayer meetings, which 
were held nearly every evening. The young men 
and women were more particularly subject to this 
delirium. They would exhibit all the apish actions 
imaginable, making the most ridiculous grimaces, 
creeping upon their hands and feet, rolling upon the 
frozen ground, go through with all the Indian modes 
of warfare, such as knocking down, scalping, ripping 
open and tearing out the bowels. At other times, 
they would run through the fields, get upon stumps, 
preach to imaginary congregations, enter the water, 
and perform ail the ceremony of baptizing, &c. 
Many would have fits of speaking all the different 
Indian dialects, which none could understand. Again, 
at the dead hour of night, the young men might be 
seen running over the fields and hills in pursuit, as 
they said, of the balls of fire, lights, &e., which they 
saw moving through the atmosphere. 

Before these scenes fully commenced, however, 
Cowdery had departed for the country inhabited by 
the Indians, with the expectation of converting them 
to Christianity, by means of his new Bible, and mi- 
racles which he was to perform among them. These 
pretensions appeared to have taken possession of the 
minds of the young men in their aspirations. Three 
of them pretended to have received commissions to 
preach, from the skies, after having jumped into the 
air as high as they could. All these transactions 
were believed to be the Spirit of God, by the whole 
congregation, which now numbered more than one 
hundred. That they were honestly impelled by the 
same causes which have, in all ages of the world, 
contributed so much to debase human nature, we have 
no doubt. One of the young men referred to, freely 
acknowledged, some months afterward, that he knew 
not what he did, for two or three weeks. Such is 
the mind of man, when his reason is dethroned by 



72 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



fanaticism. One of these aerial commissions, which 
they all supposed was signed and sealed by Chrif^t 
himself, we here subjoin, verbatim, 

' O my servant, there is a great work for you and 
the other two of your brethren. I send a messenger 
to tell you where to go and find a piece of parchment 
that shall contain these words You shall teach re- 
pentance and remission of sins to all who shall come 
in the sound of your voice — I command you that you 
do these things in sincerity and in truth ; and if you 
do, you shall be blessed. The time is shortly com- 
ing, and is not far distant, when you shall be bound 
together for life : the names of your brethren are 
these : Burr Riggs and Edson Fuller, and if they are 
not faithful, I will choose another in their stead — my 
work must be done. My servants, you shall go 
forth from^ place to place, and if you are true to your 
trust, they shall hear. Remember that I am the 
Lord your God — serve me above all others, and I 
will bless you^ in the end. Amen. 

" ' That that you had a messenger tell you to go and 
get the other nighty you must not show to any son of 
Adam. Obey this, and I will stand by you in all 
cases : my servants, obey my commandments in all 
casesy and I will provide. 

C Be ye always ready, ^ 

< Be ye always ready, > whenever I shall calL 



" * There shall be something of greater importance 
revealed when I shall call you to go : my servants^ 
be faithful over a few things, and I will make you a 
ruler over many. Amen, Amen, Amen/ 



Be ye always ready, 




My seal 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



73 



" These commissions, they said, came on parch- 
ment, and they had only time to copy them, before 
they vanished from their sight. With such papers 
in their pockets, they actually went through the 
country, preaching, and made many converts. Two 
of the three afterward obtained their reason, and left 
the concern. All these things were afterward pro- 
nounced by Smith to be the work of the devil, al- 
though more than one hundred had been converted 
to Mormonism, by merely witnessing the exhibitions. 
They professed, at all times, their inability to work 
miracles, but were secretly trying to perform them, 
and frequently proclaimed their success. At a dis- 
tance from the scene of action, many notable mira- 
cles were circulated." 

Meantime Rigdon had gone to what Mr. 
Howe denominates the Bihle quarry, in order 
to have an interview with the prophet. A joy- 
ful one it must have been, now that the leaven 
began to work, and the speculation to prosper. 
At any rate, within about a month from the time 
Cowdery and party had appeared in Ohio, a 
revelation came out in Manchester, coupling 
Rigdon with Smith, as another chosen vessel. 
Thus it appears, that a man long known as a 
preacher of some distinction, in his order, who 
had, moreover, spent three years in the exclu- 
sive study of the Scriptures (?) now, in the 
course of a few weeks, has surrendered him- 
self up, without any pretence of sufficient rea- 
son, to a system opposed to Christianity, and 
entirely subversive of its principles. We ap- 
peal to the world to decide whether this defec- 
tion is most naturally chargeable upon the 



74 MORMOXIS:.! AND THE MORMONS. 



intellect, or the heart. In copying the follow- 
ing, we have italicized a few words, the truth 
and beauty of which will be still more apparent 

hereafter. 



■"A commandnieiit to Joseph and Sidnev. Dec. 7, 
1530 ; sayiiig. Listen to the voice of the Lord your 
God : I a:a Al:ha afxd Omega, the beginning and the 
end. whose cjurse is one eternal round; the same 
to-day as yesrorcay. and for ever. I am Jesus 
Christ, was ciLicified for the sms of the world, even 
as many a5 will believe on mv name, that thev mav 



■er-ly I 
uTDon th 



be^come the sor.s of Gc 

one. Behoi:, vooiiy. ■ 
Sidney, I ha -o i: kod 
have heard oraye 
greater wori: — :ao: ar: o osseo. i: 
great thy-: ^^1. Boi;oA, riv.a vast so: 
John, t: :: y.::: '- ;':t .oo:. ooioro mo o 
shooid o :;.r. ooi ::\:'o koovo-' 
bap::o- \ - . :-,:o: aom^ 00000:0000. ": 
not :ao Hviy Gom: ; oa; ayv I ^iv- 
mandment. too: :k: : - aai; oaoo:z^ 
the Holy Gk - iov 0^ 
apostles of oi k Ao: i: ^0 
shall be a great v 
Gentiles, for thei: 
be made may-i:'^ 
God. and moo 
miracles, sig:.-. aao . 
lieve on my name : ao 
name, in faith, sh-^d! 
the sick, they shoi 
sighi. and the deal i j i.r^i. :ar 
and the lame to walk : and the time 
thai great things are to come and 



;.5 I am in the 

my servant 
:r:y works : I 
rd thee for a 
shalt do 
do::n. even as 
ki which 



..ooooi 
; 'on- 

:o:; ^ive 
0: as the 
oat there 
' loig the 

.s"shall 
i-r I am 
•oU shew 

vho be- 
:n mv 

k heil 

- their 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



75 



unto the children of men ; but without shall nothing 
be shown forth except desolation and destruction upon 
Babylon, the same which hath made all nations drink 
of the wine of their fornication, and there is none that 
doeth good, except them that are trying to receive 
the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth to 
this generation. Wherefore, I have called upon the 
weak things, that they are unlearned and despised, 
to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit, and 
their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield 
and their buckler ; I w4ll gird up their loins, and they 
shall fight manfully for me, and their enemies shall 
be put under their feet ; and I ivill let fall the sivord 
in their behalf and by the fire of mine indignation 
will I preserve them, and the poor and the meek shall 
have the gospel preached to them, and they shall be 
looking forth to the time of my coming, for it is nigh 
at hand ; and they shall learn the parable of the fig- 
tree, for even now, already, summer is nigh at hand, 
and I have sent forth the fulness of my gospel by the 
hand of my servant Joseph, and in meekness have I 
blessed him ; and I have given unto him the keys of 
the mysteries of those things which have been seal- 
ed, even things which have been from the founda- 
tion of the w^orld, and the things which shall come 
from this time till the end of my coming, if he abide 
in me ; and if not, another will I plant in his stead : 
wherefore, watch over him, that his faith fail not ; as 
it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, 
which knowetli all things. And a commandment I 
give unto you, that thou shalt ivrite for him, and the 
Scriptures shall be given, even as they are in my 
own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect, for 
they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall 
not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming, 
for they be prepared, even as I am prepared ; and 
now, I say unto you, tarry with him, and he shall 



76 MORMON ISM AND THE MORMONS. 

journey with thee : forsake him not^ and surely these 
things shall be fulfilled : and inasmuch as ye do not 
write, behold, it shall be given unto him to prophesy, 
and thou shalt preach my gospel, and call on the holy 
prophets to prove his words as they shall be given 
him. Keep all the commandments and covenants 
by which ye are bound, and I will cause the heavens 
to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble, and 
Zion shall rejoice upon the hills, and flourish ; and 
Israel shall be saved in mine own due time, and by 
the keys which I have given shall be led and no 
more be confounded. Lift up your hearts and be 
glad, for your redemption is nigh. Fear not, little 
flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I 
come quickly, even so. Amen." 

It makes the heart shudder to contemplate 
the blasphemy, and the purposed wickedness 
of such attempts to counterfeit the voice and 
word of God, for the low and sole purpose of 
deceiving the ignorant. These pretended re- 
velations, however, were only an introduction 
to the series of incredible iniquities which, in 
a similar category, have come down to the pre- 
sent. What man in his senses can, for one 
moment, entertain the comparison of Mormon- 
ism with Christianity ? For what communion 
hath Christ with Belial ? 

" Their plans of deception appear to have been 
more fully matured and developed after the meeting 
of Smith and Rigdon. The latter being found very 
intimate with the Scriptures, a close reasoner, and 
as fully competent to make white appear black, and 
black white, as any other man ; and at all times pre- 
pared to establish, to the satisfaction of great num- 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



77 



hers of people, the negative or affirmative, of any and 
every question, from Scrrpture^ he was forthwith 
appointed to promulgate all the absurdities and ridi- 
culous pretensions of Mormonism, ' and call on the 
holy prophets to prove' all the words of Smith. But 
the miraculous powers conferred upon him, we do not 
learn have yet been put in requisition. It seems that 
the Spirit had not, before the arrival of Rigdon, told 
Smith any thing about the ' promised land,' or his 
removal to Ohio. It is, therefore, very questionable 
' what manner of spirit' it was which dictated most 
of the after movements of the prophet. The spirit 
of Rigdon, it must be presumed, however, generally 
held sway ; for a revelation was soon had, thatKirt- 
land, the residence of Rigdon and his brethren, was 
to be the eastern border of the ' promised land,' ' and 
from thence to the Pacific Ocean.' On this land the 
' New Jerusalem, the city of refuge,' was to be built. 
Upon it all true Mormons were to assemble, to es- 
cape the destruction of the world, which was so soon 
to take place." 

Progress was soon reported by Rigdon, in 
the following communication addressed to his 
brethren in Ohio. 

" I send you this letter by John Whitmer. Re- 
ceive him, for he is a brother greatly beloved, and an 
apostle of this church. With him we send all the 
revelations which we have received ; for the Lord 
has declared unto us that you pray unto him that Jo- 
seph Smith and myself go speedily unto you ; but at 
present it is not expedient for him to send us. He 
has required of us, therefore, to send unto you our 
beloved brother John, and with him the revelations 
which he has given unto us, by which you will see 
the reason why we cannot come at this time. The 
Lord has made known unto us some of his great things 



78 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

which he has laid up for them that love him, among 
which the fact (a glory of wonders it is) that you are 
living on the land of promise, and that there is the 
place of gathering, and from that place to the Pacific 
Ocean, God has declared to himself, not only in time, 
but through eternity, and he has given it to us and 
our children, not only while time lasts, but we shall 
have it again in eternity, as you will see by one of 
the commandments, received day before yesterday. 
Therefore, be it known to you, brethren, that you are 
dwelling on your eternal inheritance ; for which, 
cease not to give ceaseless glory, praise, and thanks- 
giving to the God of heaven. Yes, lift up your heads 
with joy, for the kingdom is ours till the Saviour 
comes, even so, Amen — therefore prepare your hearts 
to receive salvation which God has sent unto you, 
knowing that they have come from God ; and know 
assuredly, if you receive them, you shall receive 
greater things, yes, things unspeakable and full of 
glory—' such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 
neither hath it entered into the heart of man to con- 
ceive,' for our God hath in visions shown it unto me. 
Therefore, I write with the greatest certainty of 
these things which he hath prepared for us — yes, 
even us, for ever, who receive the revelations of the 
last days, are the very people of whom the prophets 
spoke, and the very saints w^ho shall rejoice with 
Jesus ! ! I" 

" This communication caused a great rejoicing in 
the congregation. They were then residing upon 
their ' eternal inheritance ! ! !' Rigdon tarried with 
Smith about two months, receiving revelations, 
preaching in that vicinity, and proving, by the pro- 
phets, that Mormonism w^as true, as he imagined. 
He then returned to Kirtland, Ohio, being followed, 
in a few^ days after, by the prophet and his connec- 
tions. This being the ' promised land,' in it their long- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



79 



cherished hopes and anticipations of ' living without 
work' were to be realized. Thus, from almost a 
state of beggary, the family of Smiths were imme- 
diately w^ell furnished with the 'fat of the land' 
by their fanatical followers, many of whom were 
wealthy." 

The fame of Rigdon's conversion now spread 
far and wide. His friends and acquaintances 
flocked to see and to hear the wonders from 
his own lips. The following facts, in the lan- 
guage of one who witnessed them, are sub- 
joined, to show what manner of spirit he pos- 
sessed, as w^ell as his reasons for the new 
faith. 

"Mr. Rigdon haying returned from the state of 
New- York, two friends from Mentor going to see 
him, required of him a reason for his present hope, 
and for his belief in the Book of Mormon. He de- 
clined, saying he was weary, having just come off 
his journey, had lost much sleep, and the like. After 
a number of words had passed, by way of solicitation 
on one side, and refusal on the other, one of the 
friends from Mentor said he thought there was no 
more evidence to confirm the Book of Mormon, than 
the Koran of Mohammed. At this Mr. R. seemed 
very angry, rose up, and said, ' Sir, you have insult- 
ed me in my own house — I command silence — if 
people come to see us, and cannot treat us with civi- 
lity, they may walk out of the door as soon as they 
please.' The person then made some apology. Mr. 
R. said he had borne every thing ; he had been in- 
sulted and trampled upon, by old and young, and he 
w^ould bear it no longer. The two friends then de- 
parted. Two days after, I accompanied several 
friends to Mr. R.'s residence, and found him in con- 



80 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

versation with a Methodist elder. That being soon 
broken off, one of my friends modestly approached 
Mr. R., and solicited him to give some reason for his 
present faith. Mr. R., with great show of good na- 
ture, commenced a long detail of his researches after 
the character of Joseph Smith, — he declared that 
even his enemies had nothing to say against his cha- 
racter ; he had brought a transcript from the dockets 
of two magistrates, where Smith had been tried as a 
disturber of the peace, which testified that he was 
honourably acquitted. But this was no evidence to 
us that the Book of Mormon was divine. He then 
spoke of the supernatural gifts wdth which he said 
Smith was endowed ; he said he could translate the 
Scriptures from any language in which they were now 
extant, and could lay his finger upon every interpola- 
tion in the sacred writings ; adding, that he had proven 
him in all these things. But my friend, knowing 
that Mr. Rigdon had no knowledge of any language 
but his ow^n vernacular tongue, asked him how^ he 
knew these things, to which Mr. R. made no direct 
reply. 

" Mr. Smith arrived at Kirtland the next day, and 
being examined concerning his supernatural gifts, by 
a scholar, who was capable of testing his knowledge, 
he confessed he knew nothing of any language, save 
the king's English. 

" We then asked Mr. R. what object we could 
have, in receiving the Book of Mormon — whether it 
enjoined a single virtue that the Bible did not, or 
whether it mentioned or prohibited a single additional 
vice, or whether it exhibited a new attribute of De- 
ity 1 He said it did not. ' The Book of Mormon,' 
said he, ' is to form and govern the millennial church ; 
the old revelation was never calculated for that, nor 
would it accomplish that object ; and without receiv- 
ing tlie Book of Mormon, there is no salvation for 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 81 



any one into whose hands it shall come.' He said 
faith in the Book of Mormon was only to be obtained 
by asking the Lord concerning it. To this, Scrip- 
tural objections were made. He then said, if we have 
not familiarity enough with our Creator to ask of him 
a sign, we were no Christians ; and that if God would 
not condescend to his creatures, in this way, he was 
no better than Juggernaut 1 1 

Mr. Howe adds, — 

" From this point in the history of this delusion, it 
began to spread with considerable rapidity. Nearly 
all of their male converts, however ignorant and 
worthless, were forthwith transformed into ' elders,' 
and sent forth to proclaim, with all their wdld enthu- 
siasm, the wonders and mysteries of Mormonism. 
All those having a taste for the marvellous, and de- 
lighting in novelties, flocked to hear them. Many 
travelled fifty and a hundred miles to the throne of 
the prophet, in Kirtland, to hear from his own mouth 
the certainty of his excavating a Bible and specta- 
cles. Many, even in the New- England states, after 
hearing the frantic story of some of these * elders,' 
would forthwith place their all into a wagon, and 
wend their way to the ' promised land,' in order, as 
they supposed, to escape the judgments of heaven, 
which were soon to be poured out upon the land. 
The state of New-York, they were privately told, 
would most probaUy be sunk, unless the people there- 
of believed in the pretensions of Smith." 

The fears excited by these alarming fictions, 
and kept alive by the " madness of the pro- 
phets," conspired chiefly to promote the early 
advancement of Mormonism. Thus the ety- 
mological signification of that term was fully 
illustrated. So far as our knowledge extends, 
G 



82 



M0RM0NlS3r AXD THE :iOR3IO-S'&', 



the Greek was the only language in which the 
word Mormon had any existence, previous to 
the origin of the system we are discussing. 
Whether the author of the Manuscript Found" 
selected the word for its intrinsic appropriate- 
ness, or whether it was a chance hit of his 
posthumous editors, matters not. 

In Donnegan's Lexicon may be found Mop- 
fjLG)7\ fiopfjiovoc, with this definition, A hideous 
female spectre ; a phantom — something used 
to frighten children, &c/' Another diction- 
ary defines it, Bug-bear, hobgoblin, bloody 
bones, &c." 

What more fitting term could have been 
chosen, either for the book, or for the measures 
by which the system was promulgated I The 
writer recollects, during the winter of 1S32 and 
1833, to have heard, from one of these fanatics, 
the assertion, that within three years from that 
time the whole of western Xew-York would be 
deluo[ed in blood. Bv means of this frightful 
bug-bear, the individual in question was endea- 
vouring to frighten his kindred into an imme- 
diate removal to the land of promise. 

That such endeavours were often successful, 
is not to be wondered at, when we consider 
how often reason is dethroned by terror. Indi- 
viduals, however, who had taken one step, were 
obliged to continue on, or become obnoxious to 
the maledictions of their blind guides. They 
could seldom be expected to possess sufficient 
moral courage to endure the mortitication of re- 
treat. 



MORMOXISM AND THE MOR.MOXS. 



83 



As further specimens of these false and fright- 
ful, or Mormon prophesies, we subjoin two, 
written by Harris, and preserved by a friend 
of his. 

"Within four years from September, 1832, there 
will not be one wicked person left in the United 
States ; that the righteous will be gathered to Zion, 
[Missouri,] and that there will be no president over 
these United States after that time. 

Martin Harris. 

" I do hereby assert and dec] are, that in four years 
from the date hereof, every sectarian and religious 
denomination in the United States shall be broken 
down, and every Christian shall be gathered unto the 
I\Iormonites, and the rest of the human race shall 
perish. If these things do not take place, I will 
hereby consent to have my hand separated from my 
body. Martin Harris.'* 

The rumour that these saints had all things 
" in common," appears, furthermore, to have 
exerted a powerful influence over many. 
Wherever such a rumour originated, ]\Iormon- 
ism is indebted to it for numbers of its early 
converts. These persons, having made a long 
pilgrimage, with a view to " bettering their con- 
dition," found, to their sorrow, that the burden 
of all revelations, on this subject, fell upon the 
many, for the benefit of a few. As a sufficient 
explanation of the common-stock principles 
held and practised among the Mormons, we 
insert the following official document. 

"If thou lovest me, thou shalt serve me and keep 
rny commandments : and beliold, thou shalt conse- 



84 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



crate all thy properties, that which thou hast, unto 
me, with a covenant and a deed which cannot be 
broken ; and they shall be laid before the bishop of 
my church, and two of the elders, such as he shall 
appoint and set apart for that purpose. And it shall 
come to pass, that the bishop of my church, after that 
he has received the properties of my church, that it 
cannot be taken from the church, he shall appoint 
every man a steward over his own property, or that 
which he has received, inasmuch as shall be sufficient 
for himself and family ; and the residue shall be kept 
to administer to him who has not, that every man 
may receive according as he stands in need ; and the 
residue shall be kept in my store-house, to adminis- 
ter to the poor and needy, as shall be appointed by 
the elders of the church, and bishop, and for the pur- 
pose of purchasing land, and the building up of the 
New Jerusalem, which is hereafter to be revealed ; 
that my covenant people may be gathered in one, 
in the day that I shall come to my temple ; and this 
I do for the salvation of my people. And it shall 
come to pass, that he that sinneth and repenteth not, 
shall be cast out, and shall not receive again that 
ivhich he has consecrated unto me : for it shall come 
to pass, that which I spoke by the mouths of my pro- 
phets shall be fulfilled, for I will consecrate the riches 
of the Gentiles unto my people, which are of the 
house of Israel." 

Mr. Corrill remarks on this subject : " Much 
has been said, and great exertions have been 
used at times, to inspire the members of the 
church with a spirit of consecration and volun- 
tary offering. Some have thus been led to give 
up all, while others have been backward, which 
has caused the leaders at times to resort to other 
means of obtaining money to carry on their 



"MORMOXISM AND THE ^lORMOXS, 85 



operations. From some they would borrow, 
promising to pay again ; others they would 
stimulate to liberality, by promising them bless- 
ings and prosperity, in the name of the Lord, 
in their future business and prospects. Thus 
many, from time to time, have lost their pro- 
perty and become dissatisfied, until a great 
many have lost confidence in their leaders." 

We have deemed it necessary to dwell some- 
what upon the incipient stages of this delusion, 
in order to exhibit its original and intrinsic cha- 
racter. 

Having now arrived at a period, subsequent 
to which its operations became more generally 
known, our sketches will be more brief. We 
shall, however, pause occasionally to exhibit 
some internal evidences of the fanaticism and 
the imposture, in the words of those who had 
been the victims of one or both. 

It appears, that by 1833, the numerous fail- 
ures at guessing right, in the shape of prophe- 
cies, had become so disheartening to the faithful, 
and so diso-ustino- to the Gentiles, as to render 
some new device necessary. Hence the gift 
of tongues, which, on a previous occasion, had 
been denounced as a work of the devil, was 
now officially resumed. Respecting the modus 
operandi of this gift, we have the following par- 
ticulars, published by a Mr. Higby, who was 
eight months an elder of the Mormon church. 
Soon after joining the ^lormons, an elder said 
to him, " You must go to work in the vineyard 
of the Lord, as a preacher of the gospel. 1 



86 



MORMOXISrU AXD THE MOR^IOXS. 



have viewed your heart by the spmt of dis- 
cerniiient : I see what is in your heart, and 
what the will of the Lord is concerning you.'' 

Having been accordingly ordained, Mr. H. says,, 
"About the 10th of April following, R. Cahoon and 
D. Patton came again to the place — a meeting was 
called, and, previous to the meeting, they said that 
some one would speak with tongues before they left 
the place. Accordingh', the latter set himself to work 
at that meeting to verify his prophecy. During the 
meeting he said, • Father H., if you will rise in the 
name of Jesus Christ, you can speak in tongues.' 
He arose immediately, hesitated, and said, ' My faith 
fails me — I have not faith enough.' Said Patton, 
* You have — speak in the name of Jesus Christ — 
make some sound as you list, without further thought, 
and God will make it a language.' The old gentle- 
man, after considerable urging, spoke, and made some 
sounds, which were pronounced to be a correct 
tongue. Several others spoke in a similar manner, 
and among them was myself I spoke as I listed, 
not knowing what I said, yet it was declared to be a 
tongue. The sound of the v»-ords used by some, in 
speaking in tongues, was a medium between talking 
and singing — and all, as I am now convinced, a mere 
gibberish, spoken at random, and without thought. 

" We had another meeting shortly^ after, at which 
there were present several others, besides those of 
the church. Cahoon spoke in unknown tongues, as 
he pretended, going on at considerable length, which 
Patton interpreted. He tlien asked me to speak, 
which I did, and he interpreted as he thought proper. 

" The next time those men came among us, they 
gave us a rule for speaking in unknown tongues, and 
also for interpreting what was spoken by others. 
Tliis rule, they said, was perfect — that as long as we 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



87 



followed it we eould not err. And so I believe ; it 
was a perfect rule to lead men astray. The rule, as 
given by Cahoon, is this : rise npon your feet, and 
look and lean on Christ ; speak or make some sound ; 
continue to make sounds of some kind, and the Lord 
will make a correct tongue or language of it. The 
interpretation was to be given in the same way. 

" Upon this Mr. H. justly remarks : — ' Men of sense 
may smile at this recital ; and those who scoff at all 
religion, and know nothing of those feelings of the 
human heart which the devotional man enjoys, in con- 
verse with his Maker, will doubtless ridicule what 
they consider the weakness of folly : but the man of 
religious feeling will know how to pity, rather than 
upbraid, that zeal without knowledge which leads a 
man to fancy that he has found the ladder of Jacob, 
and that he sees the angel of the Lord ascending and 
descending before his eyes : while the Christian phi- 
losopher, who has read the history of mankind, will 
find abundant apology for that man, who, by a con- 
stant and over-anxious exercise of mind, is led at 
length to fancy himself on the banks of the Ulai with 
Daniel, or on the Isle of Patmos with St, John.' 

^' They would frequently sing in this gibberish, 
forming a tune as they proceeded. The same songs, 
they said, would be sung when the lost tribes appear- 
ed in Zion, in Missouri. 

" Another seceder from this delusion relates, that 
he was present, on a certain occasion, in an upper 
room in Kirtland, w%ere were assembled from fifteen 
to twenty elders and high priests. After sundry ex- 
hortations by the priests, the prophet himself arose, 
and, with much earnestness, warned his followers to 
be zealous and faithful in their duties, saying, ' It is 
our privilege to see God face to face — yes, says he, 
I will prophesy unto you, in the name of the Lord, 
that the day will come when no man will be permit- 



88 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



ted to preach, unless he has seen the Lord : people 
will ask each teacher, ' Have you seen the face of 
the Lord V and if he say nay, they will say, ^ Away 
with this fellow, for we will have a man to teach us 
that has seen the face of the Lord.' • After a short 
pause, he added, ' The Lord is willing we should see 
his glory to-day, and all that will exercise faith, shall 
see the Lord of glory.' They then concluded to 
spend the day in fasting and prayer. Each one kept 
his seat, with his eyes closed, and his body inclined 
forward. Soon after Joseph says, ' Sidney, (Rigdon.) 
have you seen the Lord V He answered, ' I saw the 
image of a man pass before my face, whose locks 
were white, and whose countenance was exceedingly 
fair, even surpassing all beauty that I ever beheld.' 
Then Joseph replied, ' I knew you had seen a vision, 
but would have seen more, were it not for unbelief.' 
Sidney confessed his faith was weak that morning. 
Hiram Smith said he had seen nearly the same as 
Sidney, which was pronounced by Joseph to be the 
Redeemer of the world. Upon this, R. Gaboon fell 
upon his knees, holding his hands in an erect posi- 
tion. In fifteen or twenty minutes he arose, and de- 
clared he had seen the temple of Zion, filled vrith 
disciples, while the top was covered with the glory 
of the Lord, in the form of a cloud. Another one 
then placed himself in the same position, but saw no 
vision, his faith being weak. Joseph next arose, and 
passed round the room, laying his hand upon each 
one, and spoke as follows, as near as the narrator can 
recollect : — 

" ' Ak man oh son oh man ah ne commene en holle 
goste en haben en glai hosanne hosanne en holle gost^ 
en esac milkea jeremiah, ezekiel, Nephi, Lehi, St. 
John,' &c., &c. After administering the sacrament, 
several of the brethren were called upon to arise and 
speak in tongues. Several of them performed with 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



89 



considerable applause. Our informant says he was 
at length called upon to speak, or sing, ' in tongues,' 
at his own option — preferring the latter mode, he 
sung, to the tune of Bruce's Address, a combination 
of sounds, which astonished all present. 

" This gibberish for several months was practised 
almost daily, w^hile they w^ere about their common 
avocations, as well as when they assembled for wor- 
ship." 

Nor was it in Ohio alone that such scenes 
were enacted. The same excesses of folly 
have exhibited themselves in almost every place 
where Mormonism has made any advancement, 
both in America and England. 

Indeed, this species of jugglery has hardly 
been second to any other means of securing 
Mormon converts. Hence, perhaps, the perti- 
nacity with which they assert, in direct oppo- 
sition to Scripture, that tongues shall not cease. 

There is no need, however, of contesting 
this point with the Mormons, since what they 
call tongues and prophecies may undoubtedly 
continue, while the " heart is deceitful above 
all things, and desperately wicked." 



90 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Preliminary operations in Missouri — ^IMormon El Dora- 
do — Experience of Mr. Booth — Smith's position and au- 
thority in the church — Commandments — Communion with 
black spirits and white — Treasures — Foundation of Zion — 
The prophet nearly di-owned in the river of destruc- 
tion" — Comment on Rigdon's conversion. 

The reader will not have forgotten the mis- 
sion sent from western New-York to " the La- 
manites." Although it was a perfect failure in 
every thing, besides that moral triumph, the con- 
version of Sidney Rigdon, which many believe 
to have been its real object, yet it was destined 
to lead to an early transfer of the promised land. 

" Cowdery and his companions, on their way, next 
tried their skill on several tribes of natives, but made no 
proselytes, although their deluded brethren at home 
could daily see them, in visions, baptizing whole 
tribes. They finally arrived at the western line of 
the state of Missouri, late in the fall of 1830, with 
the intention of proceeding into the Indian country, 
but were stopped by the agents of the general govern- 
ment, under an act of congress, to prevent the white 
people from trading or settling among them. They 
then took up their winter quarters in the village of 
Independence, about twelve miles from the state line. 
Here they obtained employment during the winter. 
In the following spring one of them returned to Kirt- 
land, with a flattering account of the country about 
Independence. About the 1st of June, the prophet 
assembled all his followers, for the purpose of a great 
meeting, at which time it was given out that marvel- 
lous events were to take place. Here many new 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



91 



attempts were made by Smith to perform miracles, 
and otherwise to deceive his followers. Previous to 
this time, it should be remarked, nearly all the Mor- 
monites had arrived from the state of New- York, 
under a revelation, of course, to take possession of 
the 'promised land.' There were, in all, about fifty 
families. At the above-mentioned meeting a long 
revelation was manufactured, commanding all the 
leading men and elders to depart forthwith for the 
western part of Missouri, naming each one separate- 
ly, informing them that only two should go together, 
and that every two should take separate roads, preach- 
ing by the way. Only about two weeks were allowed 
them to make preparations for the journey, and most 
of them left what business they had to be closed by 
others. Some left large families, with their crops 
upon the ground, &c., &c. 

" On arriving at the village of Independence, they 
proceeded to purchase a lot of land, upon which the 
prophet directed Rigdon and Cowdery to perform the 
mock ceremony of laying the corner-stone of a city, 
which he called Zion. Of the future prosperity and 
magnificence of this city, many marvellous revela- 
tions were had by the prophet, and many more mar- 
vellous conjectures formed by his dupes. Among 
others, it was said that it would, in a few years, ex- 
ceed in splendour every thing known in ancient times. 
Its streets were to be paved with gold : all that es- 
caped the general destruction, which was soon to 
take place, w^ould there assemble with all their wealth ; 
the ten lost tribes of Israel had been discovered in 
their retreat, in the vicinity of the North Pole, where 
they had for ages been secluded by immense barriers 
of ice, and became vastly rich ; the ice, in a few 
years, was to be melted away, when those tribes, 
with St. John, and some of the Nephites, which the 
Book of Mormon had immortalized, would ))e seen 



92 MORMOXISM AND THE M0R3I0XS. 



making their appearance in the new city, loaded with 
immense quantities of gold and silver. Whether the 
prophet, himself, ever declared that these things had 
been revealed to him, or that he had seen them 
through his magic stone, or silver spectacles, we will 
not say ; but that such stories, and hundreds of others 
equally absurd, were told by those w^ho were in daily 
intercourse with him, as being events which woufd 
prolaUy take place, is susceptible of proof.*- 

Here ^vas a scheme, less splendid indeed in 
conception, but scarcely less successtul in its 
way than tile fable of EI Dorado, invented as 
a stimulus to the reckless avarice of the Span- 
ish adventurers, who desolated Mexico, and 
large portions of South America, in their bloody 
hiquest for gold. Why w^ere not the apostles 
under the necessity of appealing to some of the 
baser principles and passions of human nature, 
in order to advance Christianity ! 

Among existing and authentic data, respect- 
ing both the theory- and the practice of ^lor- 
monism, by no means the least valuable are a 
series of letters, addressed to the Rev. Ira Eddv, 
by Mr. Ezra Booth. 

Mr. Booth had formerly been a local preacher 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church ; but, in an 
evil hour, had become a victim to the ^Mormon 
imposture. Painful experience at length re- 
vealed to him the iniquity of the scheme by 
which he had been duped, and faithfully has he 
exposed it. 

From many other items of interest in his let- 
ters, we extract the following* — 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 93 



''If God be a God of consistency and wisdom, I 
now know" Mormonism to be a delusion ; and this 
knowledge is built upon the testimony of my senses. 
In proclaiming it, I am aware I proclaim my own 
misfortune — but in so doing I remove a burden from 
my mind, and discharge a duty as humbling to my- 
self, as it may be profitable to others. Thanks be to 
God ! the spell is dissipated, and the ' captive exile 
hasteneth that he may be loosed, and not die in the 
pit.' 

" When I embraced Mormonism, I conscientiously 
believed it to be of God. The impressions of my 
mind were deep and powerful, and my feelings were 
excited to a degree to which I had been a stranger. 
Like a ghost, it haunted me by night and by day, until 
I was mysteriously hurried, as it w^ere, by a kind of 
necessity, into the vortex of delusion. At times I 
was much elated ; but, generally,, things in prospect 
were the greatest stimulants to action. 

On our arrival in the western part of the state of 
Missouri, the place of our destination, w-e discovered 
that prophecy and vision had failed, or rather had 
proved false. This fact was so notorious, and the 
evidence so clear, that no one could mistake it — so 
much so, that Mr. Rigdon himself said, that ' Joseph's 
vision was a bad thing.' This w^as glossed over, ap- 
parently, to the satisfaction of most persons present ; 
but not fully to my own. It excited a suspicion that 
some things were not right, and prepared my mind 
for the investigation of a variety of circumstances, 
which occurred during my residence there, and, indeed, 
to review the whole subject, from its commencement 
to that time. My opportunities for a thorough investi- 
gation were far greater than they could have been had 
I remained at home : and, therefore, I do not regret 
that I made the journey, though I sincerely regret 
the cause of it. Since my return, I have had seve- 



94 MOR.AlOXiSM AND THE MORMONS. 



ral interviews with Messrs. Smith, Rigdon, and Cow- 
dery, and the various shifts and turns to which they 
resorted, in order to obviate objections and difficul- 
ties, produced in my mind additional evidence that 
there w^as nothing else than a deeply-laid plan of 
craft and deception. 

" The relation in which Smith stands to the church 
is that of a prophet, seer, revealer, and translator ; 
and when he speaks by the Spirit, or says he knows 
a thing by the communication of the Spirit, it is re- 
ceived as coming directly from the mouth of the Lord. 
When he says he knows a thing to be so, thus it 
must stand without controversy. A question is agi- 
tated between two elders of the church — whether or 
not a bucket of water will become heavier by putting 
a living fish in it. Much is said by each of the dis- 
putants ; when, at length, Smith decides it in the 
negative, by saying, ' I know, by the Spirit, that it 
will be no heavier.' Any person, who chooses, may 
easily ascertain, by actual experiment, whether the 
prophet was influenced, in this decision, by a true or 
false spirit. 

" Every thing in the church is done by command- 
ment ; and yet it is said to be done by the voice of 
the church. For instance : Smith gets a command- 
ment that he shall be the ' head of the church,' or that 
he ' shall rule the conference,' or that the church 
shall build him an elegant house, and give him one 
thousand dollars. For this the members of the church 
must vote, or they will be cast off for rebelling against 
the commandments of the Lord. In addition to the 
Book of Mormon, and the commandments, there are 
revelations which are not written. In this depart- 
ment, though Smith is the principal, yet there are 
others who profess to receive revelations ; but, after 
all, Smith is to decide whether they come from the 
Lord or the devil. Some have been so unfortunate 



MORMOXISM AND THL M0R310NS. 95 



as to have their revelations palmed upon the latter. 
These revelations entirely supercede the Bible, and, 
in fact, the Bible is declared too defective to he trust- 
ed, in its present form ; and it is designed that it shall 
undergo a thorough alteration, or, as they say, trans- 
lation. This work is now in operation. The Gos- 
pel of St. Matthew has already received the purifying 
touch, and is prepared for the use of the church. It 
was intended to have kept this work a profound se- 
cret, and strict commandments were given for that 
purpose ; and even the salvation of the church was 
said to depend upon it. The secret is divulged, but 
the penalty is not as yet inflicted. Their revela- 
tions are said to be an addition to the Bible. But 
instead of being an addition, they destroy its use ; for 
every thing which need be known, whether present, 
past, or future, they can learn from Smith, for he has 
declared to the church, that he ' knows all things that 
will take place from this time to the end of the world.' 
If, then, placing the Bible under circumstances which 
render it entirely useless, is infidelity, Mormonism is 
infidelity. 

" Smith is the only one at present, to my know^- 
ledge, who pretends to hold converse with the inha- 
bitants of the celestial world. It seems, from his 
statements, that he can have access to them when 
and where he pleases. He does not pretend that he 
sees them with his natural, but with his spiritual, 
eyes ; and he says he can see them as well with his 
eyes shut, as with them open. So also in translat- 
ing. The subject stands before his eyes in print, 
but it matters not whether his eyes are open or shut ; 
he can see as well one way as the other. 

" Smith describes an angel as having the appear- 
ance of ' a tall, slim, well-built, handsome man, with 
a bright pillar upon his head.' The devil once, he 
says, appeared to him in the same form, excepting 



96 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



upon his head he had a ' black pillar,' and by this 
mark he was able to distinguish him from the 
former. 

" It passes for a current fact in the Mormon 
church, that there are immense treasures in the earth, 
especially in those places in the state of New- York 
from whence many of the Mormons emigrated last 
spring : and when they become sufficiently purified, 
these treasures are to be poured into the lap of their 
church ; to use their own language, they are to be the 
richest people in the world. These treasures were 
discovered several years since, by means of the dark 
glass, the same with which Smith says he translated 
the most of the Book of Mormon. Several of those 
persons, together with Smith, who were unsuccess- 
fully engaged in digging and searching for these trea- 
sures, now reside in this county, and from themselves 
I received this information." 

Having reached the Missourian El Dorado, 
Mr. Booth witnessed several important transac- 
tions. 

" The laying of the foundation of Zion was attend- 
ed with considerable parade, and an ostentatious dis- 
play of talents, both by Rigdon and Cowdery. The 
place being designated as the site where the city was 
to commence, on the day appointed we repaired to 
the spot, not only as spectators, but each one to act 
the part assigned him in the great work of laying the 
foundation of the 'glorious city of New Jerusalem.' 
Rigdon consecrated the ground, by an address, in the 
first place, to the God whom the Mormons profess 
to worship ; and then making some remarks respect- 
ing the extraordinary purpose for which we were as- 
sembled, prepared the way for administering the oath 
of allegiance to those who were to receive their 
' everlasting inheritance' in that city. He laid them 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



97 



under the most solemn obligations to constantly obey 
all the commandments of Smith. He enjoined it upon 
them to express a great degree of gratitude for the free 
donation, and then, as the Lord's vicegerent, he gratu- 
itously bestowed upon them that for which they had 
paid an exorbitant price in money. These prelimina- 
ries being ended, a shrub oak, about ten inches in 
diameter at the butt, the best that could be obtain- 
ed near at hand, was prostrated, trimmed, and cut off 
at a suitable length : and twelve men, answering to 
the twelve apostles, by means of handspikes, con- 
veyed it to the place. Cowdery craved the privi- 
lege of laying the corner-stone. He selected a small 
rough stone, the best he could find, carried it in one 
hand to the spot, removed the surface of the earth to 
prepare a place for its reception, and then displayed 
his oratorical power, in delivering an address, suited 
to the important occasion. The stone being placed, 
one end of the shrub oak stick was laid upon it ; and 
there was laid down the first stone and stick, which 
are to form an essential part of the splendid city of 
Zion. 

" The next day the ground for the temple was con- 
secrated, and Smith claimed the honour of laying the 
corner-stone himself. Should the inhabitants of In- 
dependence feel a desire to visit this place, destined 
at some future time to become celebrated, they will 
have only to walk one half of a mile out of the "town, 
to a rise of ground, a short distance south of the road. 
They will be able to ascertain the spot by the means 
of a sapling, distinguished from the others by the bark 
being broken off on the north and on the east side. 
On the south side of the sapling will be found the let- 
ter T., which stands for temple ; and on the east side 
Zom ! for Zomas ; which Smith says is the original 
word for Zion. Near the foot of the sapling they 
will find a small stone covered over with bushes, 



98 



MOR MONISM AXD THE MORMOXS. 



which were cut for that purpose. This is the coiTier- 
stone for the temple. They can there have the pri- 
vilege of beholding the mighty work, accomplished 
by about thirty men, who left their homes, travelled 
one thousand miles, most of them on foot, and ex- 
pended more than one thousand dollars in cash." 

It appears that the eminent failure of this 
worse than Quixotic expedition, produced so 
great a dissatisfaction, as w^ell nigh to have 
broken up the whole concern. The party start- 
ed to return. Smith, in his pertinacious deter- 
mination to be at the head of every thing, ma- 
naged, when proceeding down the Missouri in 
a canoe, to run said craft foul of a sawyer," 
thus exposing himself and his companions to a 
ducking. This untoward event, at the end of 
so many disappointments, brought on a serious 
quarrel. 

" By the persuasion of Joseph, we landed before 
sunset, to pass the night upon the bank of the river. 
Preparations were made to spend the night as com- 
fortably as existing circumstances would admit, and 
then an attempt was made to effect a reconciliation 
between the contending parties. The business of set- 
tlement elicited much conversation, and excited consi- 
derable feeling on both sides. Olivers denunciation 
was brought into view ; his conduct and equipage were 
compared to ' a fop of a sportsman he and Joseph 
w^ere represented as highly imperious, and quite dic- 
tatorial ; and Joseph and Sidney were reprimanded 
for their excessive cowardice. Joseph seemed in- 
clined to arm himself, according to his usual custom, 
in case of opposition, with the judgments of God, for 
the purpose of pouring them, like a thunder-bolt, upon 
the rebellious elders : hut oup or two retorted, ' Xone 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



99 



of your threats which completely disarmed him, and 
he reserved his judgments for a more suitable occa- 
sion. Finding myself but little interested in the set- 
tlement, believing the principles of discord too deep- 
ly rooted to be easily eradicated, I laid myself down 
upon the ground, and sunk into the arms of sleep, but 
was awakened at a late hour, to witness and consent 
to a reconciliation between the parties. The next 
morning Joseph manifested an aversion to risk his 
person any more upon the rough and angry current 
of the Missouri, and, in fact, upon any other river ; 
and he again had recourse to his usual method of 
freeing himself from the embarrassments of a former 
commandment, by obtaining another in opposition to 
it. A new commandment was issued, in which a 
great curse was pronounced against the waters : na- 
vigating them was to be attended with extreme dan- 
ger ; and all the saints, in general, were prohibited 
in journeying upon them, to the promised land. From 
this circumstance, the Missouri river was named the 
river of Destruction. It was decreed that we should 
proceed on our journey by land, and preach by the 
way as we passed along. Joseph, Sidney, and Oli- 
ver were to press their way forward with all possible 
speed, and to preach only in Cincinnati ; and there 
they were to lift up their voices, and proclaim against 
the whole of that wicked city. The method by which 
Joseph and Co. designed to proceed home, it was 
discovered, would be very expensive. ' The Lord 
don't care how much money it takes to get us home,' 
said Sidney. Not S3.tisfied with the money they re- 
ceived from the bishop, they used their best endea- 
vours to exact money from others, who had but little, 
compared with what they had ; telling them, in sub- 
stance, ' You can beg your passage on foot, but as we 
are to travel in the stage, we must have money.' 
You will find, sir, that the expense of these three 



100 MORMOXISM AND THE MDRMOXS. 



men was one hundred dollars more than three of our 
company expended, while on our journey home ; and, 
for the sake of truth and honesty, let these men never 
again open their mouths, to insult the common sense 
of mankind, by contending for equality, and the com- 
munity of goods in society, until there is a thorough 
alteration in their method of proceeding. It seems, 
however, they had drained their pockets, when they 
arrived at Cincinnati, for there they were under the 
necessity of pawning their trunk, in order to continue 
their journey home. Here they violated the com- 
mandment, by not preaching ; and when an inquiry 
was made respecting the cause of that neglect, at one 
time they said they could get no house to preach in ; 
at another time they stated that they could have had 
the court-house, had they stayed a day or two longer, 
but the Lord made it known to them that they should 
go on ; and other similar excuses, involving like con- 
tradictions." 

Respecting Rigdon's pretended conversion to 
Mornnonism, Mr. Booth remarks, — 

" Before he could fully embrace it, he must ' re- 
ceive a testimony from God.' In order to this he 
laboured as he was directed by his preceptor, almost 
incessantly and earnestly in praying, till at length his 
mind was wrapped up in a vision ; and, to use his 
own language, ' to my astonishment I saw the differ- 
ent orders of professing Christians passing before my 
eyes, with their hearts exposed to view, and they 
were as corrupt as corruption itself. That society 
to which I belonged also passed before my eyes, and 
to my astonishment it was as corrupt as the others. 
Last of all that little man, who brought me the Book 
of Mormon, passed before my eyes with his heart 
open, and it was as pure as an angel ; and this was a 
testimony from God, that the Book of Mormon was 



MORMONISM AND THE 3I0RM0NS. 



101 



a divine revelation.' Rigdon is one who has ascend- 
ed to the summit of Mormonism ; and this vision 
stands as the foundation of his knowledge. He fre- 
quently affirms that these things are not a matter of 
faith with him, but of absolute knowledge." 



CHAPTER Vra. 

Zion established — Enthusiasm of the gathering to Mis- 
souri — Origin of difficulties — Mob law — Mutual provoca- 
tions — Expulsion of Mormons from Jackson county — 
Revelations on the subject — Army of Zion — Essay at 
miracles — Exhibitions of valour — End of the campaign. 

During the visit to Missouri, which has been 
described in the preceding chapter, Smith again 
issued what he pretended was a revelation from 
the Almighty. A part of this document is here 
inserted, as an explanatory key to subsequent 
events. 

" Zion, August 3d, 1831. 
" Hearken, ye elders of my church, and give ear 
to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning 
you ; for verily I say unto you, blessed is he that 
keepeth my commandments, w^hether in life or in 
death ; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the re- 
ward of the same is greater in the kingdom. Ye 
cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present 
time, the design of your God concerning those things 
which shall follow after much tribulation : for after 
much tribulation cometh the blessing. Wherefore, 
the day cometh that ye shall be rewarded with much 
glory — the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand ; re- 



102 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



member this, which I told you before, that you njay 
lay it to heart, and receive that which shall follow. 

" Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause have 
I sent you — that ye might be obedient, and that your 
hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the 
things which are to come, and also that you might be 
favoured of laying the foundation, and bearing record 
of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand. 
Behold, I the Lord hath spoken it, and that the testi- 
mony might go forth from Zion, yea, from the mouth 
of the city of the heritage of God ; yea, for this cause 
I have sent you hither, and I have selected and 
chosen my servant Edward, and appointed unto him 
his mission in this land ; but if he repent not of his 
sins, which is unbelief and blindness of heart, let him 
take heed lest he fall. Behold, his mission is given 
unto him, and it shall not be given again ; and who- 
soever standeth in that mission is appointed to be a 
judge in Israel, like as it was in ancient days, to di- 
vide the lands of the heritage of God unto his chil- 
dren, and to judge his people by the testimony of the 
just by the assistance of his counsellors, according to 
the laws of the kingdom, which were given by the 
prophets of God. Let no man break the laws of the 
land — wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, 
until he reigns, whose right it is to reign, and subdue 
all his enemies under his feet. Behold, the laws 
which ye have recorded from my hand are the laws 
of the church — in this light shall ye hold them forth. 
Behold, here is wisdom ; and as I speak concerning 
my servant Edward, this land is the land of his resi- 
dence, and those whom he hath appointed for his 
counsellors, and all the land of the residence of him 
whom I have appointed to keep my store-house. 
Wherefore, let them bring their families to this land, 
as they shall counsel between themselves and me ; 
for, behold, it is not meet that I should command in 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 103 

all things, for he that is compelled in all things is a 
slothful, and not a wise servant ; wherefore, he re- 
ceiveth no reward. 

" And now I give unto you further directions con- 
cerning this land ; it is wisdom in me that my servagt 
Martin should be an example unto the church, in lay- 
ing his money before the bishop of the church ; and 
also, this is the law unto every man that cometh into 
this land to receive an inheritance, and he shall do 
with, his money according as the law directs ; and it 
is wisdom, also, that there should be lands purchased 
in Independence for the place of the store-house, and 
also for the house of the printing, and other directions 
concerning my servant Martin, of the Spirit that he 
may receive his inheritance as seemeth him good — 
and let him repent of his sins, for he seeketh praise 
of the world. Verily I say, concerning the residue 
of the elders of my church, the time has not yet come 
for many years, for them to receive their inheritance 
in this land, except they desire it through prayer only, 
as it shall be appointed unto them ; for, behold, they 
shall push the people together from the ends of the 
earth ; wherefore, assemble yourselves together, and 
he that is not appointed to stay in the land, let them 
preach the gospel in the regions round about ; and 
after that, let them return to their homes. Let them 
preach by the way, and bear testimony of the truth 
in all places, and call upon the rich, the high, and the 
low, and the poor, to repent : and let them build up 
churches, inasmuch as the inhabitants of the earth 
will repent ; and let there be an agent appointed, by 
the voice of the church. And I give unto my ser- 
vant Sidney a commandment, that he shall write a 
description of Zion, and a statement of the will of 
God, as it shall be made known by the Spirit unto 
him ; and an epistle and a subscription unto all the 
churches, to obtain moneys to be put into the hands 



104 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 

of the bishop, to purchase lands for an inheritance for 
the children of God, of himself, or of the agent, as 
seemeth him good, or as he shall direct, for behold 
the Lord willeth that the disciples and the children 
of men should open their hearts, even to purchase this 
wfiole region of country, as soon as time will permit ; 
behold, here is wisdom, lest they receive none inhe- 
ritance, save hy the shedding of hlood ; and let the 
work of the gatheriag be not by haste nor hy flight, 
but let it be done as it shall be counselled by the 
elders of the church at the conference — according to 
the knowledge which they shall receive from time to 
time ; and let my servant Sidney consecrate and dedi- 
cate this land, and the spot of the temple, unto the 
Lord ; and let a conference meeting be called. And 
after that, let my servant Sidney and Joseph return, 
and also ray servant Oliver with them, to accomplish 
the residue of the work which I have appointed unto 
them in their own land ; and the residue as shall be 
ruled by the conference/* 

This communication was received with 
childish exultation by the Mormon leaders s 
who echoed and re-echoed the intelligence 
that " the Lord has given us this whole 
region of country," — " this whole region of 
country is ours." Yet the very commandment 
informed them that they must purchase the 
land either by money, " as soon as time would 
permit," or by " the shedding of blood." Not- 
withstanding the disorder and hot haste with 
which Joseph and Sidney had returned to " their 
own land," yet their followers generally began 
to grow enthusiastic about locating themselves 
on their second eternal inheritance. Mr. Cor- 
rill says, — 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 105 

" They had been commanded not to go up in haste, 
nor by flight, but to have all things prepared before 
them. Money was to be sent up to the bishop, and 
as fast as lands were purchased, and preparations 
made, the bishop was to let it be known, that the 
church might be gathered in. But this regulation 
was not attended to^ for the church got crazy to go 
up to Zion, as it was then called. The rich were 
afraid to send up their money to purchase lands, and 
the poor crowded up in numbers, without having any 
places provided, contrary to the advice of the bishop 
and others, until the old citizens began to be highly 
displeased. They saw their county filling up with 
emigrants, principally poor. They disliked their re- 
ligion, and saw also, that if let alone, they would, in 
a short time, become a majority, and, of course, rule 
the county. The church kept increasing, and the 
old citizens became more and more dissatisfied, and 
from time to time offered to sell their farms and pos- 
sessions, but the Mormons, though desirous, were too 
poor to purchase them. 

" The feelings of the people became greatly exas- 
perated, in consequence of the many falsehoods and 
evil reports that were in constant circulation against 
the church. 

" Thus matters grew worse and worse, until the 
people arose in their fury. On the 20th day of July, 
1833, the citizens met at the court-house, in Inde- 
pendence, and appointed a committee, who called 
upon six or seven of the leading Mormons, and re- 
quired them to shut up all their work-shops, their 
store, and their printing-office, and agree to leave 
the county. The Mormons required time to give 
them an answer ; but they would grant only fifteen 
minutes. The Mormons then refused to comply with 
their proposals, and the committee then returned to 
the court-house, where the people were assembled, 



106 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

and related to them the answer of the Mormons, 
They then took a vote to demolish the printing-office, 
which they did immediately, and tarred and feathered 
the bishop and two or three others, and appointed the 
23d to meet again and carry on the work of destruc- 
tion. The day arrived, and the people met, several 
hundred in number, and plainly manifested a full de- 
termination to carry on the work of destruction : some 
four OT five of the leading Mormons offered their lives 
if they would spare the church, but they answered 
' no, every man should answer for his own life, or 
leave the county.' 

" The Mormons agreed to leave, and this appeased 
their wrath for that time. A part were to leave in 
January, and a part in the spring. This agreement 
having been made in duress, the Mormons considered 
it illegal, and not binding, and supposed that the go- 
vernor, or authorities, would protect them, if applied 
to, and not suffer them to be driven off in that manner. 

" Here let me remark, that up to this time the 
Mormons had not so much as lifted a finger, even in 
their own defence, so tenacious were they for the 
precepts of the gospel, — ' turn the other cheek.' 

" Between two and three months passed off in 
peace, when, toward the last of October, a petition 
was drawn up and circulated in the church, praying 
the governor for protection ; but he said we must ap- 
peal to the civil law for redress. This we tried, but 
found it of no use, for as soon as the people found out 
that we had petitioned the governor for protection, 
and that we were about to appeal to the law for re- 
dress, they became very angry, and again commenced 
hostilities. The Mormons then began to prepare for 
self-defence, but were badly armed. The citizens 
would collect together, and by night commit depreda- 
tions on the Mormons, by pulling down their houses, 
whipping the men, ^c, until some lime about the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 107 

fourth of November, 1833, a conflict took place, in 
which three or four persons were killed, and others 
wounded. This took place above Blue, eight or nine 
miles from Independence, and the news reached In- 
dependence a little after dark ; at which time six or 
eight of the Mormons were undergoing a sham trial, 
under a pretence of law ; but this news produced such 
confusion in the court-house, and the people became 
so angry, that the court was obliged to shut up the 
prisoners in the jail, to keep them from being mur- 
dered. The people continued to gather from differ- 
ent parts of the country, and such was the wrath and 
determination manifested, that before light the next 
morning, the Mormon leaders agreed, for themselves 
and the church, to leave the county. Lyman Wight, 
who lived above Blue, eight or ten miles distant, on 
hearing that several Mormons were in jail without 
just cause, and supposing they intended to take their 
lives, gathered up about one hundred and fifty men, 
partly armed, and marched to Independence ; but on 
learning that the Mormons had agreed to leave the 
county, they conceded to the same, and gave up their 
arms, — fifty-two guns, a pistol and a sword, — which 
Col. Pitcher and others faithfully agreed to deliver 
up, as soon as they had left the county ; but this they 
afterward refused to do, although required to do so, 
by a written order from the governor, and the Mor- 
mons have never received the guns, nor an equiva- 
lent for them, to this day. 

" They all left Jackson county in the course of 
three or four weeks. Some went to Van Bu»en 
county ; some to the eastward ; but the major part 
went to Clay county, where they were received in a 
hospitable manner. They were not sufl?ered to re- 
turn to Jackson county, even to settle up their busi- 
ness. 

" During all these difficulties the Mormons were 



108 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



accused of many crimes. This, of course, was ne- 
cessary for an excuse ; but the people of Jackson 
well know, that up to that time, the Mormons had not 
been guilty of crime, nor done any thing whereby 
they could criminate them by the law : and, in my 
opinion, the stories originated in hatred toward the 
Mormon religion, and the fear entertained of their 
overrunning and ruling the county. 

" The people of Clay gave the Mormons employ- 
ment, and paid them good wages ; and by their indus- 
try they made themselves comfortable, with the 
exception of some families that found it difficult to 
get shelter. The number driven out was about 
twelve hundred. 

" Some time in the winter of 1833, and 1834, the 
governor ordered the criminal acts of the people to 
be complained of, and laid before the grand jury of 
Jackson county. For this purpose, he ordered Cap- 
tain Atchinson, with his company of Liberty Blues, 
to guard the witnesses over to the trial, which he did, 
much to the satisfaction of the witnesses. The go- 
vernor also requested the attorney general to go and 
assist ; but, after getting there, and seeing the situa- 
tion of things, and the spirit of the people, he advised 
the witnesses to go home, and not try to do any thing 
about it, for they would be unable to get justice. 
They took his advice, and returned with the guard-'' 

The events alluded to in the last paragraph 
were of such importance as to require a little 
more minuteness of detail. We give below a 
fe\^ extracts of the revelation which was there- 
upon issued, in the form of a handbill, from the 
Mormon press at Kirtland. The first paragraph 
intimates, that what we would fain consider as 
an unprovoked, as well as an unpardonable per- 
secution, was in fact a visitation suffered by 



MORMONiSM AND THE MORlvIOXS. ' 109 

Heaven, in consequence of their transgressions. 
V erily, this was the unkindest cut of all," to 
denounce the poor Mormons for the natural re- 
sults of a delusion so industriously instilled into 
their minds. The only shadow of an apology 
we have been disposed to extend to those who 
opposed them, in defiance of the laws, grows 
out of what appears to be the natural spirit and 
legitimate practice of Mormonism ; and, of 
course, is chargeable upon its authors, not its 
victims. 

Trained as the Mormons had been to anath- 
ematize all who questioned the pretensions of 
their prophet ; and boasting, as they were wont, 
of increasing power and anticipated dominion, 
we cannot easily suppose their course to have 
been conciliating or commendable. Yet many 
of them had the apology of knowing no better, 
and all the example of their superiors for such 
offensive conduct : but notwithstanding this, the 
very instigators of their folly could point out 
their own followers as obnoxious to divine judg- 
ments. 

REVELATION. 

" Verily, I say unto you, concerning your brethren 
who have been afflicted and persecuted and cast out 
from the land of your inheritance, — I the Lord hath 
suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith 
they have been afflicted in consequence of their trans- 
gressions ; yet I will own them, and they shall be 
mine in that day when I shall come to make up my 
jewels. 



110 MORMOXISM AXD THE M0R3I0X:>% 



"Verily, I sa}^ unto you, noUvithstaRding their 
sins, my bowels are filled vrith compassiOxT toward 
them : I will not utterl}^ cast them off ; and in the 
day of wrath I will remember mercy. I have sworn, 
and the decree hath gone forth by a former command- 
ment which I have given unto you, that I would let 
fall the sword of mine indignation in the behalf of my 
people ; and even as I have said it shall come to pass. 
Mine indignation is soon to be poured out without 
measure upon all nations, and this v/ill I do when the 
cup of their iniquity is full. 

"And behold, there is none other place appointed, 
neither shall there he any other place appointed than 
that which I have appointed for the work of gather- 
ing my saints, until the day cometh when there is 
found no more room for them ; and then I have other 
places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall 
be called stakes, for the curtains, or the strength of 
Zion. 

" Therefore get ye straightway unto my land ; 
break down the walls of mine enemies ; throw dow^n 
their tower, and scatter their watchmen ; and inas- 
much as they gather together against you, avenge 
me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with 
the residue of my house and possess the land. 

" Therefore, a commandment I give unto all the 
churches, that they shall continue to gather together 
unto all the places which I have appointed : neverthe- 
less, as I have said unto you in a former command- 
ment, let not your gathering be in haste, nor by flight ; 
but let all things be prepared before you ; and in order 
that all things be prepared before you, observe the 
commandments which I have given concerning these 
things, which saith, or teacheth, to purchase all the 
lands by money, which can be purchased for money, 
in the region round about the land which I have ap- 
pointed to be the land of Zion, for the beginning of 



mok:mo-\I5>>i and the mormons. lii 



the gathering of my saints : all the land which can 
be purchased in Jackson county, and the counties 
round about, and leave the residue in mine hand. 

Now, verily, I say unto you, let all the churches 
gather together all their moneys ; let these things be 
done in their time — be not in haste ; and observe to 
have all things prepared before you. And let honour- 
able men be appointed, even wise men, and send them 
to purchase these lands ; and every church in the 
eastern countries, when they are built up, if they will 
hearken unto this counsel, they may buy lands and 
gather together upon them ; in this way they may 
establish Zion.'' 

This document produced a great sensation 
throughout the ranks of 3,Iormonism. The 
priests carried copies of it to all their congre- 
gations, some of which are said to have been 
sold for one dollar each. It was equivalent to 
a declaration of war, and the expedition growl- 
ing out of it deserves distinction in history, as 
the first Mormon crusade. We should hardly 
think of adding the following particulars, had 
they not been already drawn up to our hand by 
!Mr. Howe, on the authority of an eye witness, 
one of the sharp-shooters mentioned below. 

Old muskets, rifles, pistols, rusty swords, and 
butcher-knives were soon put in a state of repair, and 
scoured up. Some were borrowed, and some were 
bought, on a credit, if possible, and others were man- 
ufactured by their own mechanics. The 1st of May 
following being finally fixed upon, as the time of set- 
ting out on the crusade, ' my warriors,' which were 
scattered in most of the eastern and northern states, 
previous to that time, began to assemble at thequar- 



112 



M0RM0NI3M AKD THE MORMONS. 



ters of the prophet, in Kirtland, preparatory to march- 
ing. Several places further west were also selected 
for rendezvous, to those living in that direction. All 
the faithful pressed forward ; but the services of some 
were refused by the prophet, in consequence of their 
not being able, from their own resources, to furnish 
some instrument of death, and five dollars in cash. 

On the second day of their march, they arrived 
at Nev/ Portage, about forty miles distant, where 
about one hundred more fell into the ranks. Here 
the whole were organized into bands of fourteen men, 
each band having a captain, baggage wagon, tents, 
&c. Just before leaving this place, Smith proposed 
to his army that they should appoint a treasurer to 
take possession of the funds of each individual, for 
the purpose of paying it out as he should think their 
necessities required. The measure was carried, 
without a dissenting voice. The prophet was no- 
minated and voted in as treasurer, no one, of 
course, doubting his right. After pocketing the cash 
of his dupes, the line of march was resumed, and a 
white flag raised, bearing upon it the inscription of 
'PEACE,' written in red. 

" Somewhere on their route a large black snake 
was discovered near the road, over five feet in length. 
This offered a fair opportunity for some of the com- 
pany to try their skill at miracles, and Martin Harris 
took off his shoes and stockings, to ' take up serpents,' 
without being harmed. He presented his toes to the 
head of the snake, which made no attempt to bite ; 
upon which Martin proclaimed a victory over ser- 
pents : but passing on a few rods further, another of 
much larger dimensions was discovered, and on pre- 
senting his bare foot to this one also, he received a 
bite in the ankle, which drew blood. This was im 
puted to his want of faith, and produced much merri- 
ment to the company. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 113 

" A large mound was one day discovered, upon 
which General Smith ordered an excavation to be 
made into it : and about one foot from the top of the 
ground, the bones of a human skeleton were found, 
which were carefully laid out upon a board, when 
Smith made a speech, prophesying or declaring that 
they w^ere the remains of a celebrated general among 
the Nephites, mentioning his name, and the battle in 
which he was slain, some fifteen hundred years ago. 
This was undoubtedly done to encourage the troops 
to deeds of daring, when they should meet the Mis- 
sourians in battle array. 

" On arriving at Salt Creek, Illinois, they were 
joined by Lyman Wight and Hyrum Smith, (brother 
of the prophet,) with a reinforcement of twenty men, 
which they had picked up on the way. Here the 
grand army, being fully completed, encamped for the 
space of three days. The whole number was now 
estimated at two hundred and twenty, rank and file. 
During their stay here, the troops were kept under a 
constant drill of manual exercise with guns and 
swords, and their arms put in a state of repair — the 
prophet became very expert with a sword, and felt 
himself equal to his prototype Coriantumr. He had 
the best sword in the army, an elegant brace of pis- 
tols, which were purchased on a credit of six months, 
a rifle, and four horses. Wight was appointed second 
in command, or fighting general, who, together with 
the prophet, had an armour hearer appointed, select- 
ed from among the most expert tactitians, whose duty 
it was to be in constant attendance upon their masters 
with their arms. The generals then appointed a new 
captain to each band, organized two companies of 
rangers, or sharp-shooters^ to act as scouts or flank- 
ers, when they should arrive upon the field of car- 
nage. After this they dubbed themselves the ' army 
of Zion^^ and Hyrum Smith was chosen to carrv the 
8 



114 MORMONISM AND THE MORMOXS. 



flag, which he kept unfurled during the remainder of 
the march. 

" The march of the grand army was then resumed 
for two or three days, when it was agreed to spend 
half a day in a sham fight. For this purpose four 
divisions were formed, and took positions, and went 
to work, agreeably to the most approved forms of 
Bonaparte, Black Hawk, Coriantumr, or Shiz. After 
coming to close quarters, however, all discipline was 
lost sight of, and each one adopted a mode agreeable 
to his taste. Some preferred the real British push 
with the bayonet, some the old Kentucky dodging 
from tree to tree, ^vhile others preferred the Laman- 
ite mode of tomahawking, scalping, and ripping open 
the bowels. The final result was, that several guns 
and swords were broken, some of the combatants 
wounded, and each one well pleased with his ow^n 
exploits. 

" Miex crossing the Mississippi, spies on horseback 
were kept constantly on the look out, several miles 
in front and rear. The prophet went in disguise, 
changing his dress frequently, riding on the different 
baggage wagons, and, to all appearance, expecting 
every moment to be his last. Near the close of one 
day they approached a prairie, which was thirty 
miles in extent, without inhabitants. Here an alter- 
cation took place between the two generals, which 
almost amounted to a mutiny. The prophet declared 
it was not safe to stay there over night, as the enemy 
would probably be upon them. General Wight to- 
tally refused to enter the prairie, as they would not 
be able to find water, or to build a fire to cook their 
provisions, besides the gi-eat fatigue it would cause 
the troops. Smith said he would show them how to 
eat raw pork. Hyrum said he knew, by the Spirit, 
that it was dangerous to stay there. The prophet 
finally exclaimed, ' Thus saith the Lord God, March 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 115 



on this settled the matter, and they all moved on 
about fifteen miles, and thinking themselves out of 
danger, they encamped beside a muddy pool. 

" Here the controversy was again renewed be- 
tween the two generals. Smith said ' he knew ex- 
actly when to pray, when to sing, when to talk, and 
when to laugh, by the Spirit of God ; that God never 
commanded any one to pray for his enemies.' The 
whole seemed much dissatisfied, and came nigh break- 
ing out into open mutiny. 

" The prophet had, besides his other weapons, a 
large bull dog, which was exceedingly cross during 
the nights, and frequently attempted to bite persons 
stirring about. One of the captains, (a high priest,) 
one evening, declared to the prophet that he would 
shoot the dog, if he ever attempted to bite him. 
Smith replied, ' that if he continued in the same spi- 
rit, and did not repent, the dog would yet eat the flesh 
off his bones, and he would not have the power to 
resist.' This was the commencement of a contro- 
versy between the prophet and his high priest which 
was not settled till some time after their return to 
head quarters, in Kirtland, when the former under- 
went a formal trial on divers serious charges, before 
his priests, honourably acquitted, and the latter made 
to acknowledge that he had been possessed, of seve- 
ral devils for many weeks. The dog, however, a 
few nights after the controversy commenced, was shot 
through the leg by a sentinel, near the prophet's tent, 
and died instantly. 

''When within twelve miles of Liberty, Clay coun- 
ty. Mo., the ' army of Zion' was met by two gentle- 
men, who had been deputed by the citizens of another 
county, for the purpose of inquiring into the motive 
and object of such a hostile and warlike appearance 
upon their borders. These gentlemen openly warned 
the military band and their prophet to desist from 



116 MORMOxXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



their intended operations, and leave the settlement of 
their difficulties with the people of Jackson county, 
in other hands — advised them to be very careful what 
they did and said, as the citizens of not only Jackson, 
but some of the adjacent counties, were very much 
enraged and excited, and were fully determined to 
resist the first attempt upon them by an armed force 
from other states. A few hours after this, the pro- 
phet brought out a revelation, for the use of his 
troops, which said, in substance, that ' they had been 
tried, even as Abraham was tried, and the offering 
was accepted by the Lord ; and when Abraham re- 
ceived his reward, they would receive theirs.' Upon 
this the war was declared to be at an end. A call 
for volunteers, however, was made, to take up their 
abode in Clay county, when about one hundred and 
fifty turned out. The next day tb.ey marched to 
Liberty, and each man received an honourable dis- 
charge, under the signature of General Wight. The 
army then scattered in different directions, some 
making their way back from whence they came, the 
best way they could, begging their expenses from the 
inhabitants. The prophet and his chief men, how- 
ever, had plenty of money, and travelled as gentle- 
men do." 



CHAPTER IX. 

Theological studies — Book of Doctrines and Cove- 
nants — The name of Latter-day Saints adopted — Specula- 
tion in mummies — Manuscript of Abraham — Authorities 
of the church — Description of the temple — Closing scenes 
in Ohio. 

We now return to consider the progress of 
things at Kirtland, in connection wnth which we 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 117 



shall note several particulars respecting the 
organization and discipline of the Mormon 
church. 

" In the fall, and early part of the winter of 1835, 
the elders gathered in to Kirtland, to the number of 
three or four hundred, who remained there through 
the winter. Schools w^ere instituted for the use of 
the elders and others. Some studied grammar and 
other branches : they also employed the Hebrew 
teacher, Mr. Seixas, who gave them much insight, 
in a short time, into that language. They had been 
previously commanded to seek learning, and study 
the best books, and get a knowledge of countries, 
kingdoms, languages, &c., which inspired them with 
an extravagant thirst after knowledge." 

About this period a theological class was 
formed, which was instructed by a series of 
lectures. These lectures, six in number, are 
imbodied in the Book of Doctrines and Cove- 
nants, together with the current revelations 
received up to that time ; and also their gene- 
ral discipline, as compiled by a committee. 
The former constitute their principal body of 
divinity. Each of the six is upon the subject 
of fmth. Into faith every thing else is resolved. 
Even the Deity is said to work only by faith ! 
" Faith is the principle of power : it is the prin- 
ciple by which Jehovah works, and through 
which he exercises power over all temporal as 
well as eternal things." 

Very few references are made in them to the 
Book of Mormon ; and save some peculiar ex- 
pressions, which are often repeated, such as, 
" Whose course is one eternal round," the reader 



lis mor:.ioxism axd the mormoxs. 

would scarcely know that these lectiires had 
any thing to do with Mormon ism. 

Whenever any quotation from Scripture is 
introduced, these words are added, (new trans- 
lation.) Said new translation, or, as it has been 
fitly denominated, alteration of the Bible, was 
made by Smith and Rigdon a long time since, 
but has not yet been published entire. From 
the specimens before us, it would appear that 
they did not take the trouble to transcribe the 
whole text, and examine every \vord critically, 
like other translators, of which, by the way, 
neither of them is capable ; but they have only 
meddled with such passages as relate, in some 
way, to their peculiar views. These they have, 
with a ruthless hand, paraphrased, substituted, 
or interpolated, as suited them best. The pub- 
lication of this new translation (I) is still deem- 
ed an object of importance with the ^Mormons. 
The plain w^ord of truth gives no countenance 
to their vaganes ; and hence, doubtless, when 
they get sufficient funds to publish the icork, we 
shall, in addition to the Mormon Bible, have the 
Holy Bible Mormonized ! Query. What*cor- 
rections will be made in those numerous pas- 
sages which the writer of the Book of Mormon 
has plagiarised from the common version of 
the Scriptures ? 

If it were our desire to exhibit the ridiculous, 
it would only be necessary to copy some of the 
pretended revelations recorded in the Book of 
Doctrines and Covenants. But we forbear ; 
observing, that this book appears to have never 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 119 



been designed for any but the initiated ; and, 
recently, strenuous efforts have been made to 
suppress it entirely. The next edition will 
probably be revised and modified to suit the 
times. Many peculiarities of the system have, 
from the first, been guarded as mysteries ; and 
yet when the prophet or his head men converse 
with outside barbarians," the latter are sadly 
belaboured for their ignorance of Mormon tech- 
nicalities. 

For several years no other name was used 
to designate this sect, than that which they na- 
turally derived from their new Bible. It was 
not until about the time the " army of Zion" set 
out for Missouri, that this redoubtable church 
deemed it necessary, at once, to christen and 
to canonize themselves. In accomplishing this, 
they departed from their usual order. 

Express revelations had hitherto been re- 
ceived, forbidding them to chew tobacco — to 
feed corn to their horses — and directing expli- 
citly in other insignificant matters : but now 
that a cognomen is to be selected for this pecu- 
liar people, they are left entirely to human 
counsel. 

Mr. Howe says, — 

" On the morning of their departure, a meeting was 
assembled, and proceeded to business, after the man- 
ner of the world, by appointing the prophet chairman, 
and Cowdery secretary. Whereupon Rigdon moved 
that they hereafter assume the title and name of the 
' Church of the Latter-day Saints,' discarding the 
name of Mofmonite, which they began to consider 



120 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

rather a reproach. This was carried unaiiimouslyj 
of course. What their particular object was in the 
movement, at that crisis, we have not , been able to 
understand, unless it was for the purpose of denying, 
in the most positive terms, as they passed through 
the country, that they were Mormonites, thereby de- 
ceiving the people as to their true character, objects, 
and intentions." 

On a certain occasion they purchased, for 
what especial object we are not certified, four 
Egyptian mummies. One of these Smith is 
said to have ascertained to be Pharaoh's daugh- 
ter ! Accompanying these " subjects" was a 
specimen of Egyptian hieroglyphics, on a roll 
of papyrus. This " writing" the prophet roundly 
asserts to be " a manuscript of old Abraham ;" 
and by means of it he professes to interpret 
Scripture, particularly the writings of Moses, 
as though Abraham had lived at a proper period 
for preparing a gloss on the Pentateuch ! 

It may seem incredible to many that such 
palpable absurdities should be gravely asserted 
by any human being. The writer is prepared, 
in this instance, to add his personal testimony, 
having heard this assertion from the lips of the 
prophet. On presuming to ask what evidence 
there was that the record in question was made 
by Abraham, said prophet seemed moved with 
anger. One of his obsequious followers, know- 
ing the infirmities of his ghostly guide, replied 
for him : " Evidence enough, sir : why, if you 
could only see it you would not doubt : there 
is old Abraham himself all pictured out !" Pre- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



121 



sident Joseph soon deigned to add, " Besides, 
papyrus has never been manufactured since 
Abraham's day !" 

Now, when such contradictory falsehoods 
can be unblushingly put forth, and implicitly 
believed as truth, we ask, what outrage may 
not be perpetrated upon the human understand- 
ing ? 

The discipline and ecclesiastical polity of 
the Mormon church are thus summed up by 
Mr. Corrill. 

" There are in the church two priesthoods. First, 
the Melchisedec, or high priesthood, also called the 
greater priesthood ; second, the Aaronic, or lesser 
priesthood. In the first, or Melchisedec priesthood, 
were ordained high priests and elders ; in the second 
were ordained priests, teachers, and deacons. Each 
different grade chose one of its number to preside 
over the rest, who was called president, and whose 
duty it was to call together those over whom he pre- 
sided, at stated times, to edify one another, and re- 
ceive instruction from him. The first, or high priest- 
hood, was to stand at the head of, and regulate the 
spiritual concerns, of the church ; the second, or les- 
ser priesthood, was to administer in the ordinances, 
and attend to the temporal concerns of the church. 
Three of the high priests were chose and set apart 
by the church to preside over all the churches, of that 
order, in all the world, and were called presidents, 
and constituted what is called the first presidency. 
Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum 
Smith, are the persons at present. The church that 
was to be established in Jackson county was called 
Zion, the centre of gathering, and those established 
by revelation, in other places, were called stakes of 



122 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



Zion, or stakes; hence the stake at Ku'tland, the 
stake at Far West, the stake at Adamondiamon, &c. 
Each stake was to have a presidency, consisting of 
three high priests, chosen and set apart for that pur- 
pose, whose jurisdiction was confined to the limits of 
the stake over which they took the watch care. 
There was also to be a high council, consisting of 
twelve high priests, established at each stake, also a 
bishop, who stood at the head of the lesser priest- 
hood, and administered in temporal things ; he had 
two counsellors who, with himself, formed a court to 
try transgressors. If two members had a difficulty, 
they were to settle it between themselves, or by the 
assistance of another, according to the Scriptures : 
but if they could not do this, then it went before the 
bishop's court for trial ; but if either party was dis- 
satisfied with the bishop's decision, he could appeal 
it to the high council. There was also a travelling 
high council, consisting of twelve high priests, called 
the twelve apostles, or the twelve, whose duty it 
was to travel and preach the gospel to all the world. 
They were also to regulate the church in all places 
where it was not properly organized. One of their 
number presided over the rest in their councils. 
There were other bodies formed, called the seven- 
ties, consisting of seventy elders each, (not high 
priests,) seven of whom presided over the rest in 
their councils. These seventies were to travel and 
preach in all the world, under the direction of the 
twelve, who were to open or lead the waj^ and then 
call upon the seventies for assistance. There were 
three of these bodies formed, called the first, second, 
and third seventies. The first presidency, the high 
council, the twelve, and each of the seventies, were 
equal in power, that is to say, each had a right to dis- 
cipline their own members, and transact other busi- 
ness of the church within their calling, and a decision 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



123 



of either one of these bodies, when in regular session, 
could not be appealed from to any other, for one had 
no right or power to reverse or overthrow the judg- 
ment or decision of the other, but they could all be 
called together and form a conference, consisting of 
all the authorities, to which an appeal could be taken 
from either one, and the decision reversed. These 
w^ere the regular constituted authorities of the church ; 
but, besides this. Smith and Rigdon taught the church 
that these authorities, in ruling or watching over the 
church, w^ere nothing more than servants to the 
church, and that the church, as a body, had the power 
in themselves to do any thing that either or all of 
these authorities could do ; and that if either or all of 
these constituted authorities becam.e deranged or 
broken down, or did not perform their duty to the 
satisfaction of the church, the church had a right to 
rise up in a body and put them out of office, make 
another selection, and reorganize them, and thus keep 
in order, for the power was in the people, and not in 
the servants. The high priests, eiders, and priests, 
w^ere to travel and preach, but the teachers and dea- 
cons w*ere to be standing ministers to the church. 
Hence, in the last organizing of the church, each 
branch of the church chose a teacher to preside over 
them, whose duty it was to take particular charge of 
that branch, and report from time to time to the ge- 
neral conference of elders, which was to be held 
quarterly. For some time after the commencement 
of the church an elder might ordain an elder, priest, 
teacher, or deacon, w'hen and where he thought pro- 
per ; but, after stakes were planted, and the church 
became organized, they established a rule that none 
should be ordained without consent of the church or 
branch that he belonged to ; neither should any man 
be placed over a branch or take charge of it, without 
consent of the same." 



124 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 

The office of bishop is more fully described 
by Mr. Booth. 

" His business is to superintend the secular con- 
cerns of the church. He holds a deed of the lands, 
and the members receive a writing from him, signi- 
fying that they are to possess the land as their own, 
so long as they are obedient to Smith's command- 
ments. The bishop is, in reality, the vicegerent of 
Smith, and those in coalition with him ; and holds his 
office during their will and pleasure." 

The reader may be anxious to know what 
kind of sacrifices were offered at Kirtland, to 
render so many priests necessary ; but we are 
uninformed. The same crude fancy that in the 
above regulations has jumbled up the priest- 
hoods of Melchisedec and Aaron, apostles, 
high priests, and elders together, also designed 
the first Mormon temple, which was built in 
Kirtland, at an expense of forty thousand dol- 
lars. As the corner-stone of a similar edifice 
has been recently laid at Nauvoo, their present 
gathering-place, it may not be uninteresting to 
put on record here the glory of the former house. 
It has been thus described : — 

" This house was eighty feet by sixty ; and fifty- 
seven feet high to the top of the wall. It was di- 
vided into two stories, each twenty-two feet high, and 
arched over head. Ten feet were cut off from the 
front end by a partition, and used as an entrance ; 
also containing the stairs. This left the main room 
fifty-five by sixty-five in the clear, both below and 
above. In each of these rooms were built two pul- 
pits, one in each end. Each pulpit consisted of four 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



125 



diflferent apartments ; the fourth standing on a plat- 
form raised a suitable height above the floor ; the 
third stood directly behind, and elevated a little above 
the fourth ; the second in rear of and elevated above 
the third ; and so was the first above the second. 
Each of these apartments was just large enough, and 
rightly calculated to receive three persons ; and the 
breast-work in front of each of these three last men- 
tioned was constituted of three semi-circles, joining 
each other, and finished in good style. The fourth, 
or lower one, was straight in front, and had a table- 
leaf attached to it, that could be raised at pleasure, 
for the convenience of administering the sacrament, 
&c. These pulpits were alike in each end of the 
house, and one was for the use of the Melchisedec, 
or high priesthood, and the other for the Aaronic, or 
lesser priesthood. The first, or higher apartment, 
was occupied by the first presidency over all the 
church ; the second apartment, by the president of the 
high priests and his two counsellors ; the third, by 
three of the high priests ; and the fourth, by the pre- 
sident of the elders and his two counsellors. The 
highest apartment of the other pulpit was occupied 
by the bishop of the church and his two counsellors ; 
the next by the president of the priests and his two 
counsellors ; the third by the president of the teach- 
ers and his two counsellors ; and the fourth by the 
president of the deacons and his two counsellors. 
Each of these apartments had curtains hanging from 
the ceiling, over head, down to the top of the pulpit, 
which could be rolled up or dropped down at plea- 
sure ; and, when dropped down, would completely 
exclude those, within the apartment from the sight of 
all others. The room itself was finished with slips 
and seats, so calculated that, by slipping the seats a 
little, the congregation could change their faces to- 
ward either pulpit they chose, for in some cases the 



126 



MORMON ISM AND 



THE MORMONS. 



high priesthood would administer, and in other cases 
the lesser would. The room was also divided into 
four apartments, by means of curtains hanging from 
the ceiling, over head, down to the floor, which could 
be rolled up at pleasure, so that the room could be 
used all in one, or divided into four rooms, and used 
for different purposes. Thus the house was con- 
structed to suit and accommodate the different orders 
of priesthood and worship peculiar to the church." 

When this edifice was sufficiently completed, 
a solemn assembly was convoked. 

When the temple was so far finished as to 
be ready for the "solemn assembly," in which 
they were to purify their bodies with Avater, 
wash each other's feet, and anoint each other 
with oil, pronouncing mutual blessings on each 
other during the performance, there was found 
to have accumulated against it a debt of fifteen 
or twenty thousand dollars. 

"As the house had been built by faith, as they 
termed it, they must now continue their faith, and 
contrive some m.eans to pay the debt. Notwithstand- 
ing they were deeply in debt, they had so managed 
as to keep up their credit, so they concluded to try 
mercantile business. Accordingly, they ran in debt 
in New- York, and elsewhere, some thirty thousand 
dollars for goods, and, shortly after, some fifty or six- 
ty thousand more, as I was informed : but they did 
not fully understand the mercantile business, and, 
withal, they suffered pride to arise in their hearts, 
and became desirous of fine houses, and* fine clothes, 
and indulged too much in these things, supposing, for 
a few months, that they were very rich. They also 
spent some thousands of dollars in building a steam 
mill, which never profited them any thing. They 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



127 



also bought many farms at extravagant prices, and 
made part payments, which they afterward lost, by 
not being able to meet the remaining payments. 
They also got up a bank, for which they could get 
no charter, so they issued their paper without a char- 
ter, and, of course, they could not collect their pay 
on notes received for loans, and, after straggling with 
it awhile, they broke down. 

" During their mercantile and banking operations, 
they not only indulged in pride, but also suffered 
jealousies to arise among them, and several persons 
dissented from the church, and accused the leaders 
of the church with bad management, selfishness, 
seeking for riches, honour, and dominion ; tyrannizing 
over the people, and striving constantly after power 
and property. On the other hand, the leaders of the 
church accused the dissenters with dishonesty, w^ant 
of faith, and righteousness ; being wicked in their 
intentions, guilty of crimes, such as stealing, lying, 
encouraging the making of counterfeit money, &c. ; 
and this strife or opposition arose to a great height, 
so that, instead of pulling together as brethren, they 
tried every way in their power, seemingly, to destroy 
each other ; their enemies from without rejoiced at 
this, and assisted the dissenters what they could, un- 
til Smith and Rigdon finally were obliged to leave 
Kirtland, and,' with their families, they came to Far 
West, in March or April, 1838." 

By comparing the above statements of Mr. Cor- 
rill with those of a gentleman residing near the 
spot, we shall be able to understand the circum- 
stances under which the Mormons abandoned 
their first " eternal inheritance." " The closing 
scenes of Mormonism here were truly revolt- 
ing and extraordinary, exhibiting as much black- 
hearted villany as was ever concocted and acted 



128 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



out by any set of men under any circumstances, 
while for every new scheme of knavery, they 
had a ' Thus saith the Lord,' in the shape of 
a revelation from Smith. I will only glance at 
a few particulars. 

" In 1836 they formed among themselves seve- 
ral large mercantile firms, the prophet, of course, 
being a partner in each ; and contrived, by means 
of falsehood and deception, to procure goods in 
Buffalo and New- York, to the amount of more 
than thirty thousand dollars. With these the pro- 
phet and his priests rigged themselves out in the 
most costly apparel, at the top of the fashions. 

" Subsequently they had a revelation com- 
manding them to establish a ' bank, which 
should swallow up all other banks.' This was 
soon got into operation on a pretended capital of 
four millions of dollars, made up of real estate 
round about the temple. By means of great acti- 
vity, and an actual capital of about five thousand, 
they succeeded in setting afloat from fifty to one 
hundred thousand dollars. This concern was 
closed up, after flourishing three or four weeks. 
During this period, the land speculation had 
been fully entered into by the gang. They 
contracted for nearly all the land within a mile 
and a half of the temple, laid it out into city 
lots, and proceeded with the operation of buy- 
ing and selling lots to one another at the most 
extravagant prices. 

" But their career was soon brought to a close. 
Suits were instituted against them under the 
hnvs against private banking, and Smith and 



MORMONISM AxVD THE MORMONS. 129 

RigdoR were fined one thousand dollars each. 
Their printing establishment, with a large quan- 
tity of books and paper, was taken and sold to 
pay the judgment. On the same night the whole 
was consumed with fire, set by the Mormons. 
This was followed by the flight of the prophet 
and his head men for Missouri, and a general 
breaking up of the establishment in this quarter. 
Not being willing to leave their temple in the 
hands of the * infidels,' they made several at- 
tempts to fire it, and actually burnt down a small 
Methodist chapel standing but a few rods dis- 
tant, expecting it would communicate to the 
temple. After leaving, the prophet sent a mes- 
sage to his followers, making known to them 
that it was the Lord's will that they should im- 
mediately depart for the west, to escape the 
plagues with which the place was to be visited," 



CHAPTER X. 

Progress of events in Missouri — Inflammatory preach- 
ing — Secret society — Hostilities — War of extermination 
— Cruelties inseparable from such an order — Trial of the 
leaders — Testimony before the court of inquiry — Charged 
as ex parte. 

The history of the Mormon difficulties and 
persecutions in Missouri has already been 
spread before the community in various forms. 
It will therefore only be expected of us to give 
a brief summary of the events which took place, 
in order to preserve their connection, and to 
9 



130 MORMONISM AND THE MORMOxXS- 

show their bearing. After all that we have 
read on this subject, we prefer the authority of 
Mr. Corriil, and shall, to some extent^ make use 
of his words. 

That gentleman was personally involved in 
most of the scenes described, and therefore 
must have known what actually took place. 
Writing, as he did, at once for his Mormon 
friends, and for the people of Missouri, he may 
be supposed to have stated the facts correctly, 
and free from the bias which has been given to 
some of the accounts on either side. 

For several years the Mormons had been 
rapidly settling in Clay county, where they had 
been received on their expulsion from Jackson. 
A portion of the people there also began to grow 
uneasy lest they should be overrun with the new 
sect. Without any sufficient provocation, these 
persons continued to stir up excitement, and the 
Mormons began to prepare for self-defence. At 
length the more rational part of the citizens saw 
that bloodshed would follow, unless something 
was done. They accordingly appointed a com- 
mittee, who called upon the Mormons to meet 
them in conference. This was done, and the 
latter agreed to leave the county, the committee 
assisting them to procure a new place of resi- 
dence. A place was found in the territory of 
Ray county, since organized into that of Cald- 
well ; the people of the vicinity consenting to 
the arrangement. 

" The Mormons purchased great quantities of land 
in Caldwell county, made improvements, and their 



MORMOMSM AND THE 3I0RM0XS. 



131 



works plainly show that they were industrious, though 
they laboured under many disadvantages, on account 
of their poverty and former difficulties. Many of 
them were obliged to seek labour in the neighbour- 
ing counties for their bread. The people gave them 
employment, and many of them also borrowed mo- 
ney, to purchase lands with. Friendship began to 
be restored between them and their neighbours, the 
old prejudices were fast dying away, and they were 
doing well, until the summer of 1838. 

" Many of the church had settled in Davies coun- 
ty, and, to all appearance, lived as peaceably with 
their neighbours as people generally do ; but not long 
after Smith and Rigdon arrived in Far West, they 
went to Davies county and pitched upon a place to 
build a town. L. Wight was already on the ground 
with his family. They laid out a town, and began to 
settle it pretty rapidly : Smith gave it the name of 
Adamondiamon, which he said was formerly given 
to a certain valley, where Adam, previous to his 
death, called his children together and blessed them. 
The interpretation in English is, ' The valley of God, 
in which Adam blessed his children.' Many of the 
church became elated with the idea of settling in and 
round about the new town, especially those who had 
come from Kirtland, as it was designed more parti- 
cularly for them. This stirred up the people of Da- 
vies in some degree ; they saw that if this town was 
built up rapidly, it would" injure Gallatin, their county 
seat, and also that the Mormons would soon overrun 
Davies, and rule the county, and they did not like to 
live under the laws and administration of ' Jo Smith.' 
Lyman Wight also would frequently boast in his dis- 
courses of what they would do if the mob did not let 
them alone, — they would fight, and they would die 
upon the ground, and they would not give up their 
rights, &c., when, as yet, there was no mob. But 



132 



MORMOXISM AXD THE MORMONS, 



this preaching inspii-ed the Mormons with a fighting 
spirit, and some of the other citizens began to be 
stirred up to anger." 

Great difficulties had previously arisen among 
themselves, growing out of the various specula- 
tions into which the church had plunged ; pro- 
ducing dissension, distrust, and recrimination. 
In order to pay the debts in New-York and 
elsew^here, many of the church in Kirtland 
turned out their farms, and stripped themselves 
of property, taking orders on the bishop in Far 
West, and in their poverty following Smith and 
Rigdon as soon as they could. 

Various attempts had been made to reconcile 
the mutual grievances and animosities, but with- 
out entire satisfaction. The dissenting and 
accused party at length withdrew. 

" Notwithstanding the dissenters had left the 
church, yet the old strife kept up, and Smith and 
Rigdon, with others, complained much of the ill 
treatment they had received from the dissenters and 
others ; they said they had been persecuted from 
time to time with vexatious lawsuits ; that mobs had 
arisen up against them, time after time ; that they 
had been harassed to death, as it were, for seven or 
eight years, and they were determined to bear it no 
longer, for they had rather die than suffer such things ; 
and it was the will of God that the saints should 
fight their death rather than suffer such things ; 
that if the church would be united, and exercise faith 
in God, he would protect them, though their enemies 
were ever so numerous. But in order to get protec- 
tion and favour from God, they must become one, and 
be perfectly united in all things ; cleanse themselves 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMOXS. 133 

from every kind of pollution, and keep the whole law of 
God ; and, if they would do this, God would strength- 
en them against their enemies, his arm should be their 
arm, and the time was not far distant when, if they 
purified themselves properly, one should be able to 
chase his thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. 

" This kind of preaching was the chief topic of 
conversation all that summer, until many of the 
church became inspired with the belief that God 
would enable them to stand against any thing, even 
the state of Missouri, or the United States, if they 
should come in a mob. 

" Some time in June, 1838, a few individuals be- 
gan to form a society that should be agreed in all 
things. In order to this, they bound themselves un- 
der very close restrictions. As this society began to 
increase, they secretly entered into solemn covenants 
before God, and bound themselves under oath to keep 
the secrets of the society, and covenanted to stand by 
one another in difficulty, whether right or wrong, but 
said they would correct each other's wrongs among 
themselves. As the presidency stood next to God, 
or between God and the church, and was the oracle 
through which the word and will of God were com- 
municated to the church, they esteemed it very es- 
sential to have their w^ord, or the word of God through 
them, strictly adhered to. They therefore entered 
into a covenant, that the word of the presidency 
should be obeyed, and none should be suffered to 
raise his hand or voice against it ; for, as they stood 
at the head of the church, it was considered no more 
than reasonable that they knew more of the will of 
God than any others did ; consequently, all things 
must be in submission to them, and, moreover, all 
tattling, lying, and backbiting must be put down, and 
he that would not submit willingly, should be forced 
to it, or leave the countv. 



134 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



" Who first started this society I know not, but 
Doctor Samson Arvard was the most prominent 
leader and instructer, and was assisted by others. 
The first presidency did not seem to have much to 
do with it at first : they would, however, go into their 
meetings occasionally, and sanction their doings. 
Arvard was very forward and indefatigable in ac- 
complishing their purposes, for he devoted his whole 
talents to it, and spared no pains ; and, I thought, 
was as grand a villain as his wit and ability would 
admit of. 

" How much he was assisted by the presidency I 
know not, but I thought that they stood as wire- 
workers behind the curtain. Be this as it may, they 
ran into awful extremes, for it seemed that they felt 
justified, and thought it was the will of God, to use 
any measures whatever, whether lawful or unlawful, 
to accomplish their purpose, and put down those that 
opposed them. In this they perverted the former 
belief and notions of the church ; for the church al- 
ways believed that judgments, pestilence, disease, 
famine, great troubles and vexations, were sooner or 
later to be poured out upon all the wicked, and cut 
them off in the course of time, and this, they sup- 
posed, would be done by God himself, and the object 
of gathering together was, that they might purify 
themselves, and stand in holy places appointed of God 
for that purpose, and thus escape these judgments. 
But now it began to be taught that the church, in- 
stead of God, or, rather, the church in the hands of 
God, was to bring about these things ; and I was told, 
but I cannot vouch for the truth of it, that some of 
them went so far as to contrive plans how they might 
scatter poison, pestilence, and disease among the in- 
habitants, and make them think it was judgments sent 
from God. But here let me remark, that this was 
known only to some half dozen or so of the leaders. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 135 



and not to the church, nor even the great majority of 
this secret society. 

" The church celebrated the fourth of July, by 
raising a liberty pole, on which they hoisted the Ame- 
rican flag. They also formed a civil and military 
procession, and President Rigdon delivered an ora- 
tion, containing the following and similar sentences : 
' We take God to witness, and the holy angels to 
witness this day, that we warn all men, in the name 
of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more for ever. 
The man or the set of men who attempt it, do it at 
the expense of their lives ; and that mob that comes 
on us to disturb us, there shall be between us and 
them a war of extermination, for we will follow them 
till the last drop of their blood is spilled, or else they 
will have to exterminate us ; for we will carry the 
war to their own houses, and their own families, and 
one party or the other shall be utterly destroyed.' " 

Not long after this, an affray occurred at an 
election which fanned the flame of discord on 
both sides. Thus mutual provocation and injury 
progressed, until open hostilities ensued. The 
excitement growing worse and worse, two or 
three hundred men assembled in Davies county, 
and appointed Doctor Austin, of Carroll, as their 
leader. The Mormons also collected at Ada- 
mondiamon, under L. Wight, ready for defence. 
Sentinels were kept out by both parties, who 
reconnoitered the country as they thought pro- 
per. A party of Austin's men fired on two Mor- 
mons, one of whom escaped, the other was 
taken prisoner. 

The former sent to Richmond to procure 
sixty or eighty stands of arms. The wagon 



136 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS, 

conveying them broke down. The Mormoirs> 
getting news of this, sent ten men, who got 
possession of the arms, and made three prison- 
ers. Five hundred militia were at length called 
out, and both these parties dispersed. 

A little previous to this, the citizens of Car- 
roll had held meetings, and resalved to drive the 
Mormons fram that countj. About three hun- 
dred persons collected for this purpose in De- 
witt, and also appointed Doctor Austin for their 
commander. 

The Mormons, though weak in that place, 
prepared for defence,, under command of CoL 
Hinkle, About a hundred, including Smith and 
Rigdon, went from Far West to their assistance. 
This outbreak was at length quelled also by the 
militia. Both parties were now so deeply irri- 
tated, that the various rumours set afloat re- 
specting one another's designs and movements^ 
soon provoked exasperation. In cases like this^ 
the greater amount of injury is almost invariably 
chargeable on the strornger party, although the 
weaker may not be guiltless. This we pre- 
sume to have been true in the present instance. 
Nevertheless, there was a period in which the 
Mormons appear to have been the chief aggres- 
sors. They certainly took measures calculated 
greatly to lessen the sympathy naturally felt in 
their lot, as well as to aggravate the difficulties 
in which they were involved. There may have 
been palliating circumstances, but justice can- 
not fail to attribute this conduct, generally, to 
the extreme infatuation to which their minds 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 137 

had been wrought up by the preaching and ex- 
ample of their leaders. 

Returning from Carroll county in a state of 
highly excited feeling, Smith preached on Sun- 
day, and requested a meeting of all the male 
members the next day. 

" They accordingly met, and passed resolutions to 
the following effect : — All the members of the church 
should take hold and help ; those who had been back- 
ward in carrying on the warfare should now come 
forward, and their property should be consecrated, so 
far as might be necessary, for the use of the army. 
If any man undertook to leave the place, and go to 
the enemy, he should be stopped and brought back, 
or lose his life. As soon as this meeting was over, 
they collected upon the public square, and called for 
volunteers. About two hundred were raised to go to 
Davies county. Others were raised to guard Far 
West. A company, called the Fur Company, was 
raised, for the purpose of procuring provisions, for 
pressing teams, and even men, sometimes, into the 
army in Caldwell. I now saw plainly that they had 
become desperate, and their career would soon end ; 
for I knew that their doings would soon bring the 
people on them, and I dreaded the consequences. I 
would have been glad to have left the county with 
my family, but I could not get away ; the decree was 
passed, and there was no other chance for me and the 
other dissenters but to pretend to take hold with the 
rest. I now understood that they meant to fall upon 
and scatter the mob wherever they could find them 
collected. 

" I heard nothing from the leaders ; but in the camp 
it was said that they meant not only to scatter the 
mob, but also to destroy those places that harboured 
them ; that Gallatin and Millport were of that num- 



138 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS 



ber ; that the time had arrived for the riches of the 
Gentiles to be consecrated to the house of Israel, but 
they meant to confine themselves to the mob charac- 
ters in their plunderings. They conjectured that 
mob after mob, as they termed it, would arise against 
them, which they would have to subdue, one after 
another, even till they should reach St. Louis, where 
Wight said he meant to winter. Many had the 
weakness to believe that God would enable them 
to do it. 

" When they found no citizens gathered together 
against them, they ought to have been peaceable, and 
merely stood on the defensive ; but they had become 
too desperate in feeling for that, and resolved to clear 
Davies county from every thing in the shape of what 
they called mobs, which they did effectually in the 
course of that and the next week. It appeared to 
me also that the love of pillage grew upon them very 
fast, for they plundered every kind of property they 
could get hold of, and burnt many cabins in Davies, 
some say eighty, and some say one hundred and fifty. 
They also went with a company to Livingston, and 
took a piece of ordnance, which had been brought 
there by the company that came from Carroll county. 

" Far West, meanwhile, was well guarded, for they 
heard they were to be attacked by Captain Gilliam, 
with a company from the Platte. But he did not at- 
tempt it. They also heard that a company was com- 
ing from Buncum, and they organized a company of 
ten men, that were called the Destructionists, whose 
commander was called the Destroying Angel. Their 
business was to watch the movements of the citizens, 
and if they gathered in Buncum, and left the place 
for Far West, these Destructionists were to slip in 
behind them, and burn the place. So they were to 
do, it was said, by Richmond, or any other place that 
should turn out men to injure them. I believe they 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 139 

never attempted to burn either place, though it was 
reported in Richmond that the time was set for them 
to burn that place, and many left it for a short time ; 
but this, I think, wsts incorrect. 

" Shortly after the Mormon troops came from Da- 
vies, they received news that a company was gather- 
ed on Crooked river, and that some of them had been 
to some houses on Log creek, in Caldwell, and or- 
dered off the families, with severe threats if they 
were not gone by sunrise the next morning. They 
took away their arms, and, it was said, also burnt a 
wagon and a house, and took three men prisoners. 
On receiving this news, a company was fitted out to 
disperse them. Captain Fear-not (David W. Pat- 
ten) commanded them. They went in the . night to 
the house of Fields, on Crooked river, but not finding 
the company there, they proceeded to another place, 
and had not proceeded far till they met with a centi- 
nel, who hailed them, and, after a word or two, shot 
one of them down, and then ran to his company ; but 
they followed him up in a hurry, and, after a fire or 
two, charged on the company, and soon dispersed 
them, and supposed they had killed several. They 
then gathered up a part of the plunder, and about 
thirty horses, and returned, leaving one of their men 
dead on the ground, though they did not miss him till 
they had got home. Three or four others were badly 
wounded, and Patten and one other died soon. One 
of the opposite party was killed, and others wounded. 

" This battle produced great excitement among the 
people, and the Mormons found, in a day or two, that 
it was militia instead of a mob that they had assailed. 
Captain Bogart had collected a company, and got 
permission to guard Buncum, and was there encamp- 
ed for that purpose when they fell on him. The ex- 
citement increased rapidly, and in a day or two the 
whole country, seemingly, was in arms." 



140 M0RM0XIS3I AND THE MORMOXS* 



Shortly after this a bloody scene ensued at 
a place called Hawn's Mill, in which two or 
three companies of militia are represented to 
have attacked, without provocation, a house in 
which a number of ]\Iormons, men, women, and 
children, were assembled for shelter, of whom 
twenty or thirty were killed. On the 27th of 
October, 1838, while this state of things was 
pending, the governor of Missouri, L. W. Boggs, 
received information which induced him to issue 
to Gen. Clark orders, of which the following 
sentences are a part : — " The Mormons must 
be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated, 
or driven from the state, if necessary, for the 
public peace. If you can increase your forces, 
you are authorized to do so to any extent you 
may consider necessary." An army of several 
thousand men was soon under way to execute 
these orders. But happily, before any general 
attack occurred, proposals of peace were made 
by the officers in command, and accepted by 
the Mormons. Their fighting men, to the num- 
ber of about five hundred, were to surrender 
themselves as prisoners. They were also re- 
quired to sign a deed of trust, conveying all 
their property to five commissioners, w^ho were 
to hold it in trust for the use of the creditors of 
the chmxh, and to pay the damages and ex- 
penses of the war. The overplus, in case any 
thing remained, was to be refunded. 

The prisoners were soon discharged, with 
the exception of fifty-three, who were detained 
for examination, before a criminal court of in- 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



141 



quiry, at Richmond. Seven of these, the prin- 
cipal leaders, were put *in irons. The result 
of this examination was, that thirty-six indi- 
viduals were retained for trial, on the charges 
preferred. Those accused of treason and mur- 
der were confined in jail ; the rest were ad- 
mitted to bail. The accusation for murder was 
based on what was termed, Bogart's battle. 
We would willingly dismiss here this painful 
subject, with the remarks we have to make 
upon it : but inasmuch as the testimony record- 
ed, at the above-mentioned criminal court of 
inquiry, having been submitted to the senate of 
the United States, has been published in a con- 
gressional document, we must, in justice to the 
reader, give an abstract of the same, together 
with an authorized (Mormon) account of the 
manner in which the court was conducted. 
The publication alluded to is entitled, " A doc- 
ument, showing the testimony given before the 
judge of the fifth judicial circuit of the state of 
Missouri, on the trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and 
others, for high treason, and other crimes, against 
that state." It gives the names of fifty-three 
individuals, charged with the crimes of high 
treason against the state — murder, burglary, 
arson, robbery, and larceny. Among these 
names are those of Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum 
Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Parley P. Pratt, 

The first witness, introduced in this pamphlet, 
is Dr. Sampson Arvard, w^ho had been a special 
teacher among the Mormons. He testifies, that 
a band was formed, among that people, denomi- 



142 MORMON ISM AND THE MORMONS. 

nated, at first, the Daughters of Zioii ; but, after 
that, the Danite band ; the original object of 
which was to expel, from Caldwell county, the 
dissenters from the ^Mormon church. Joseph 
Smith, Jr., blessed the band, and prophesied 
over them, declaring that they should be the 
means, in the hands of God, of bringing forth 
the millennial kingdom. Smith said it was ne- 
cessary that this band should be bound together 
by a covenant, that those who revealed the se- 
crets of the society should be put to death. The 
covenant was as follows, (holding up the right 
hand :) — " In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son 
of God, I do solemnly oblio^ate mvself ever to 
conceal, and never to reveal, the secret purposes 
of this society, called the Daughters of Zion, 
Should I ever do the same, I hold my life as 
the forfeiture." 

Prophet Smith and his two counsellors (Hy- 
rum Smith and Sidney Rigdon) were consider- 
ed as the supreme head of the church ; and the 
Danite band felt themselves as much bound to 
obey them, as to obey the supreme God. Smith 
taught them that they should stand by each 
other, right or wrong. He declared, publicly, 
that all who did not take up arms in defence of 
the Mormons, should be considered as tories, 
and should take their exit from the country. In 
addressing the ^lormon forces on the subject 
of taking property that did not belong to them, 
he said the children of God did not go to war 
at their owm expense. He said it was high 
time that they should be up, as saints of the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 143 

most high God, and protect themselves, and 
take the kingdom. On some occasions, he said 
that one should chase a thousand, and two put 
ten thousand to flight — that he considered the 
United States rotten — that the Mormon church 
was the little stone spoken of by the prophet 
Daniel — and that the dissenters first, and the 
state next, were part of the image that should 
be destroyed by that stone. About the time 
that the militia, under Gen. Lucas, came out to 
Far West, Smith assembled the Mormon troops, 
and said, that for every one they lacked in num- 
ber of those who came out among them, the 
Lord would send angels, v^ho would fight for 
them, and they should be victorious. 

Dr. Avard received orders from Smith, Rig- 
don, and Co., to destroy the paper containing 
the constitution of the Danite society, as, if it 
should be discovered, it would be considered 
treasonable. He did not, however, obey the 
orders, but, after he was made prisoner, he 
handed it to Gen. Clark. The Mormon preach- 
ers and apostles were directed to instruct their 
followers to come up to the state, called Far 
West, and to possess the kingdom ; and that the 
Lord would give them power to possess it. 

A paper was drafted by Sidney Rigdon, and 
signed by eighty-four Mormons, the object of 
which was, to drive away the dissenters. It 
was addressed to Oliver Cowdery, David Whit- 
mer, John Whitmer, William W. Phelps, and 
Lyman E. Johnson. Of these, Oliver Cowdery 
and David Whitmer were two of the three wit- 



144 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



nesses that testified to the truth of the Book of 
Mormon. This paper charges these dissenters, 
viz., Oliver Cowdery. David "Whitmer, &c., with 
monstrous vices and crimes. It states that Cow- 
dery was arrested for stealing, and the stolen 
property was found in the house of William W. 
Phelps, Cowdery having stolen and conveyed 
it ; that they had endeavoured to destroy the 
character of Smith and Rigdon, by every arti- 
fice that they could invent, not even excepting 
the basest lying ; that they had disturbed the 
^vlormon meetings of worship by a mob of black- 
legs ; that Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer 
united with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves, 
liars, and blacklegs of the deepest die, to de- 
ceive, cheat, and defraud the Mormons out of 
their property, by every art and stratagem which 
wickedness could invent ; using the influence 
of the vilest persecutions to bring vexations and 
law-suits, villanous prosecutions, and even steal- 
ing not excepted ; that Cowdery attempted to 
sell notes on which he had received pay ; that 
he and David Whitmer swore falsely, stole, 
cheated, lied, sold bogus money, (base coin,) 
and also stones and sand for bogus ; that letters 
in the post-office had been opened, read, and 
destroyed ; and that those same men were con- 
cerned with a gang of counterfeiters, coiners, 
and blacklegs. 

Nehemiah Odell, sen., was in the battle be- 
tween Captain Bogart's company and the Mor- 
mons, Oct. 25th, 1838. He testifies, that the 
i\Iormon commander, on that occasion, ex- 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



145 



pressed himself about to this amount : — " In 
the name of Lazarus, God, and the Lamb, fire, 
Danites Somewhat farcical, as well as tra- 
gical. 

According to the testimony of Capt. Bogart, 
the Mormons attacked him, and were therefore 
the assailants. 

Wyatt Cravens, one of Capt, Bogart's men, 
who was made prisoner by the Mormons, testi- 
fies, that after they pretended to set him at 
liberty, he was waylaid on his return home- 
ward by a Mormon, shot at, and wounded, but 
finally succeeded in making his escape. 

James C, Owens testifies, that Smith said he 
cared nothing about the Missouri troops, nor 

the laws ; that they were a d d set, and God 

should d n them, so help him Jesus Christ; 

that he meant to go on as he had begun, and 
take his own course, and kill and destroy ; and 
he told the men to fio^ht like ang^els ; that here- 
tofore he had told them to fight like devils, but 
now he told them to fight like angels — that an- 
gels could whip devils ; that God would send 
two angels where they lacked one man. He 
said they might think he was swearing ; but 
that God Almighty would not take notice of him 

in cursing such a d d set as those were. 

He said they pretended to come out as militia, 

but that they were all a d- d set of mobs. 

He stated, at one time, that as they had com- 
menced consecrating in Davies county, he 
intended to have the surrounding counties con- 
secrated to him ; that the time had come when 
10 



146 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONl^. 

the riches of the Gentiles should be conse- 
crated to the saints. 

John Cleminson, clerk of the Caldwell cir* 
cuit court, testifies, that the Danites were taught 
to support the presidency in all their designs, 
right or wrong, and to obey them in all things ; 
and whoever opposed them in what they said 
or desired to have performed, should be expell- 
ed from the county, or put to death. They 
were further taught, that if any one betrayed 
the secret designs of the Danite society, he 
should be killed and laid aside, and nothing 
should be said about it. When process was 
filed against Smith and others, in witness's of- 
fice, for trespass, Smith told him not to issue a 
writ ; that he did not intend to submit to it ; 
that he would not sufier it to be issued, &;c. ; 
insomuch that witness, knowing the regulation 
of the Danite band, felt himself intimidated and 
in danger, in case he should issue it. The 
object of the Mormon expedition to Davies was 
to drive out all the citizens of the county, and 
get possession of their property. It was fre- 
quently observed, among the Mormon troops, 
that the time had come when the riches of the 
Gentiles should be consecrated to the saints. 
It was a generally prevailing understanding 
among them, " that they would oppose either 
militia or mob, should they come out against 
them ; for they considered them all mob at 
heart." 

Reed Peck testifies, that the Danites were 
taught to do whatever the presidency required 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 147 

of them ; that they were not to judge for them- 
selves whether it was right or wrong ; that God 
had raised up a prophet who would judge for 
them ; that it was proper they should stand by 
one another in all cases— for example, if they 
found one of the Danites in difficulty, they 
should rescue him, if they had to do with his 
adversary as Moses did with the Egyptian, 
namely, to put him in the sand ; that it made 
no difference whether the Danite was to blame 
or not ; they would pack to Far West, and there 
be taken care of. Avard, their teacher, told 
thein they were to consecrate their surplus pro- 
perty ; and, if they lied about it, Peter, he said, 
killed Ananias, and that would be an example 
for them. Smith said he did not approve of 
stealing in a general way ; but that our Saviour 
and his disciples stole corn in passing through 
the cornfields, because they could not obtain 
any thing to eat in any other way ; and that 
the Mormon forces had had to go out to Davies 
so often, that the people there ought to bear the 
expense. Those who had scruples on the point. 
Smith and Rigdon called " O don't men." 
Those who were unwilling to join in their ma- 
rauding expeditions, they denounced as traitors ; 
and the proposition was unanimously adopted, 
that such should be pitched upon their horses, 
and be made to go, and be placed in front of 
the army, ^nall companies were sent out on 
various plundering expeditions. Witness saw 
one of those companies on its return. It was 
called a fur company. vSome had one thing, 



148 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



some another ; one had a feather bed ; another 
some spun yarn, and so on. This fur they 
were to take to the bishop's store, where it was 
to be deposited, and if they failed to do this, it 
would be considered stealing. As the militia 
under Gen. Doniphan approached Far West, 
Smith was apprized of their number by witness. 
They amounted to about thirteen hundred men. 
vSmith, to prevent panic among the Mormons, 
said there were about two hundred and fifty. 
Sometime previous to the difficuhies in Davies, 
Smith said, publicly, that he did not intend to 
regard the laws of Missouri, nor care any thing 
about them, as they were made by lawyers and 
blacklegs. In reference to the Mormon dis- 
senters, Dr. Avard, the Danite teacher, said : — 
I will tell you how I will do them ; when I 
meet one damning the presidency, I can damn 
them as well as he ; and if he wants to drink, 
I can get a bowl of brandy, and get him half 
drunk ; and, taking him by the arm, lead him 
to the woods or brush, and be into his guts in a 
minute, and put him under the sod." Rigdon, 
in a sermon, said he would assist in erecting a 
gallows on the square, and hang all the dis- 
senters. Smith was present, and followed 
Rigdon. He spoke of the fate of Judas, and 
said that Peter had hung him ; and that he him- 
self approved of Mr. Rigdon's sermon, and con- 
sidered it a good one. 

George M. Hinkle, one of the commanders 
of the Mormon forces, testifies, that there was 
much mysterious conversation in camp, about 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 149 

plundering and house-burning ; insomuch that 
he spoke to Smith upon the subject, and told him 
that this course of plundering and house-burn- 
ing by the Mormon troops would ruin the Mor- 
mons. Smith roughly told him to keep still, 
and that this was the only way to gain their 
liberty and their point. Witness saw a great 
deal of plunder brought into the camp. Smith 
said he should fight militia or mob, if they came 
against him ; and that if they pushed him too 
tight, he would march through Jefferson city, 
(the capital of the state.) Witness heard Smith 
say that he believed Mohammed was a good 
man ; that the Koran was not a true thing, but 
that the world belied Mohammed, as they had 
belied him ; and that Mohammed was a true 
prophet. The teachings of the church were, 
that the time had come when the Mormon king- 
dom was to be set up by force, if necessary ; 
and likewise, when the riches of the Gentiles 
were to be consecrated to the true Israel ; and 
this plundering of property by the Mormons was 
a fulfilment of that prophecy. Smith, in a 
speech to the Mormon troops, said, that the 
forces which were gathering through the coun- 
try were a d d mob ; and as to keeping the 

laws of Missouri any longer, he did not intend 
to try to do so ; that the whole state was a mob 
set ; that if they came to fight him, he would 
play h — 1 with their apple carts ; and so on. 
Witness mentioned the great difficulties that 
the course they were pursuing would be likely 
to get them into ; lo which some of them re- 



150 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



plied, that, as the citizens had all fled, there 
would be none to prove it but themselves, and 
they could swear as they pleased in the matter 
— could swear one another clear, should it be 
necessary. At the time Smith and witness 
were under guard at Far West, Smith, under- 
standing that witness would turn state's evi- 
dence, tried to induce him to desist, and not 
give his testimony. 

Thomas M. Odle testifies, that he heard some 
Mormon troops say that they intended to make 
it a war of extermination. 

Burr Riggs testifies, that Smith said, on se- 
veral occasions, that the sword was now un- 
sheathed, and it should not be again sheathed, 
until he could go through the United States, and 
live peaceably in any county he pleased. Rig- 
don said, that the last man had run away from 
Far West that was going to ; that the next man 
who started should be pursued, and brought 
back, dead or alive ; that one man had slipped 
his wind yesterday, and had been thrown aside 
into the brush for the buzzards to pick, and the 
first man who lisped it should die. 

Jesse Kelly testifies, that Alexander M'Kay, 
the captain of a Mormon company, stated that 
they intended, after they got possession of Da- 
vies, to take Livingston, and after that to keep 
on till they took possession of the whole state. 
Addison Price testifies to the same effect. 

John W^hitmar testifies, that Smith said, that 
if an officer attempted to serve a process on 
him he should die ; that any person who spoke 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 151 

OT acted against the presidency, or the church, 
should leave the country or die. Rigdon ex- 
pressed himself to the same effect. 

William W. Phelps, one of the principal men 
among the Mormons, testifies, that Rigdon, in 
a public meeting, said, that they meant to resist 
the law, and if a sheriff came after them with 
writs, they would kill him ; and if any body op-^ 
posed them, they would take off their heads. 
Smith approved of these remarks. On another 
occasion Rigdon administered several covenants 
to forty or fifty Mormons, the covenanters tak- 
ing their obligations with uplifted hands. The 
first was, that if any man attempted to move out 
of the cMmty, or pack his things for that pur- 
pose, any one of the covenanters seeing it should 
kill him, and haul him aside into the brush ; 
and ail the burial he should have, should be in 
a turkey-buzzard's guts, so that nothing should 
be left of him but his bones. The next cove- 
nant was, that if any person from the surround- 
ing country came into their town, walking about 
— no odds who he might be — any one of those 
covenanters should kill him, and throw him 
aside into the brush. The third covenant was, 
Conceal all these things." 

The court gave the defendants an opportuni- 
ty to be examined without oath, which they de- 
clined. Several witnesses were then produced 
by the defendants. Three of these witnesses 
were inmates of Lyman Wight's house, (one 
of the defendants.) Another was Nancy Rig- 
don, daughter of Sidney Rigdon, (another of 



152 MORMOlSriSM AND THE MORMONS, 

the defendants.) Anotiier was a servant in the 
family of Smith himself ; and there were but 
two other witnesses, making seven in all, on 
the part of the defendants. But their testimony 
amounted to nothing toward refuting the proof 
against them, as it did not touch the main 
charges and points at all. 

In respect to the testimony above condensed, 
^ and the tribunal before which it was given in, 
we find the following statements in a pamphlet 
entitled, " An Appeal to the American People, 
published by authority of the Church of Latter- 
day Saints." It was written by Mr. Rigdon. 

" General Clark spent several days in search- 
ing the statutes of Missouri, to find some au- 
thority to hold a court-martial. But finding 
none, he informed us that he would turn us 
over to the civil authorities for trial. Accord- 
ingly the trial commenced, Austin A. King on 
the bench, and Thomas C. Burch, attorney. 
This was surely a new kind of court — it was 
not an inquisition, nor yet a criminal court, but 
a compound between both. A looker on would 
be convinced that both the judge and attorney 
were not satisfied that some or all of the prison- 
ers had been guilty of criminal acts, but, on the 
contrary, that their object was to try, by all 
means in their power, to get some person to 
swear some criminal thing against us, though 
they knew we were innocent. 

" The first act of the court was, to send out 
a body of armed men to obtain witnesses, with- 
out any civil process whatever ; and after wit- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 153 

nesses were brought before the court, they were 
sworn at bayonet point. Dr. Sampson Avard 
was the first brought before the court. He had 
previously told Mr. Oliver Olney that if he 
(Olney) wished to save himself, he must swear 
hard against the heads of the church, as they 
were the ones the court wanted to criminate ; 
and if he could swear hard against them, they 
would (that is, neither court -nor mob) not dis- 
turb him. I intend to do it, said he, in order 
to escape, for if I do not, they will take my 
life. To aid him in this work, there was stand- 
ing a body of armed men ; a part of this armed 
body stood in the presence of the court to see 
that the witnesses swore right, and another part 
was scouring the country to drive out of it 
every witness that they could hear of whose 
testimony would be favourable to the defend- 
ants. This course was kept up during the 
whole time of the court. If a witness did not 
swear to please the court, he or she would be 
threatened to be cast into prison. They never 
pleased the court when their testimony was 
favourable to the defendants. One instance is 
all the proof that need be adduced on this head. 
A man by the name of Allen was called on ; 
he began to tell the story about Bogart's burn- 
ing houses in the south part of Caldwell ; he 
was kicked out of the house, and three men 
took after him with loaded guns, and he hardly 
escaped with his life. Every witness that the 
defendants had (that these creatures knew of, 
and they made diligent search to find all they 



]54 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

could) was either arrested under pretence of 
some charge, or else driven off. When wit- 
nesses did not swear to please the attorney, 
(Burch,) he would order them to be taken into 
custody, and they were immediately ca&t into 
prison, and the next morning they would be 
brought forward and tried again. Such was 
the course the court and their armed body pur- 
sued during their sittings till they got through ; 
by such means they got men to swear for them, 
and to swear to most unhallowed falsehoods. 
It was indeed suborning witnesses to swear to 
promise a man's life if he would swear, and 
death or imprisonment if he did not swear, and 
not only to swear, but swear to please them. 

" This matter of driving away witnesses, or 
casting them into prison, or chasing them out 
of the county, was carried to such a length that 
our lawyers, Gen. Doniphan and Amos Rees, 
told us not to bring our witnesses there at all, 
for if we did, there would not be one of them 
left for the final trial, for no sooner would Bo- 
gart and his men know who they were, than 
they would put them out of the county. As to 
make any impression on King, if a cohort of 
angels were to come down and declare we were 
clear, Doniphan said it would all be the same, 
for he (King) had determined, from the begin- 
ning, to cast us into prison : we never got the 
privilege of introducing our witnesses at all ; 
if we had, we could have disproved all they 
swore." 

If the reader is unable to determine, satisfac- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 155 

torily, what position the truth holds between the 
extremes of the conflicting accounts above given, 
he will probably come to the conclusion that 
there was much of wrong on both sides. 

Never before was our country witness to such 
scenes ; may she never behold their repetition. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Escape to Illinois — Sufferings — Persecution defeats 
itself — Injustice — Sympathies of the community — Isaac 
Galland — Magnificent enterprise — Place of gathering — 
Missions to England — J. C. Bennett — Revenge — New 
revelation, corresponding to Galland's advice — Charters 
for a city — University and legion. 

After the occurrences related in the fore- 
going chapter, the Mormon people, numbering 
several thousand, made their vvay, as speedily 
as possible, out of a state in which they were 
convinced they could no longer enjoy the pri- 
vileges of citizens. They had to pass through 
a community excited, and highly exasperated 
against them. They had been stripped of 
their property, and deprived of most of the 
conveniences of travelling. The season was 
the most inclement of the year. All these cir- 
cumstances, and many others, combined to 
render the sufferings attending their removal 
intense in the extreme. Several women and 
children perished in their dreary flight, too 
feeble to sustain such cruel exposure. 



156 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



To enter into a minute detail of the events 
connected with the Mormon difficulties in Mis- 
souri, and their final expulsion from that state, 
would transcend our present limits. Our task 
will be accomplished when we shall have faith- 
fully exposed the artifices made use of in these 
modern attempts to found a false religion. But 
we cannot excuse ourselves from rebuking, with 
equal fidelity, an infatuation less pitiable than 
Mormonism, which led its opponents to light up 
the fires of persecution, and to ofier sacrifices 
in the temple of discord. 

We have no respect whatever for the pre- 
tended fears of the Missourians, lest the Mor- 
mons " should rise up and destroy them." Even 
though the latter had wished and intended to 
obtain what they were taught to believe was 
their "eternal inheritance," by the shedding of 
blood, yet the idea that they could accomplish 
such a design was preposterous, and deserved 
no place in the mind of a sober man. This 
pretended alarm, however, was a capital pre- 
text for the many who wished to turn the tables 
upon the poor Mormons, and to get to them- 
selves, by dint of club law, or of mob law, the • 
possession of lands paid for and cultivated by 
others. Most successfully was it thus used ; 
and just so far as Missouri has refused to in- 
demnify such robberies, and to punish their 
authors, she has favoured injustice, and legal- 
ized oppression. Suppose treason and murder 
could have been proved against a score of indi- 
viduals, that was no reason why a community 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 157 



should be injured, or why the innocent should 
be punished with the guilty. If violence be 
suffered to usurp the place of law in any coun- 
try, with, what propriety can that be called the 
asylum of either civil or religious liberty ? 

Moreover, illegal opposition, in the nature of 
things, tends to promote the very interest against 
which it is directed. Before the Missouri war, 
the adherents of Smith were wasting their ener- 
gies in internal contention, which resulting, as it 
did, in multiplying dissenters, would soon have 
destroyed the sect. Mr. Corrill remarks : My 
opinion is, that if the Mormons had been let 
alone by the citizens, they would have divided 
and sub-divided, so as to have completely de- 
stroyed themselves and their power, as a peo- 
ple, in a short time." Composed, as their 
community was, of the heterogeneous materials 
draw^n together, on the one hand, by views of 
interest, and on the other by fanaticism per- 
sonified, their greatest desideratum was some 
rallying point around which all could gather, — 
some excitement so great as to merge their dis- 
appointments, their returning sobriety, and their 
past mistakes, in a common oblivion ; and, at 
the same time, furnish them a new bond of 
union in which all could be true yoke-fellows. 
Unhappily for them, and for mankind, this was 
furnished in their expulsion from Missouri. 

To the credit of the state and its citizens, 
the Mormons were kindly received in Illinois. 
Public meetings were held on their arrival at 
Quincy, to express sympathy for their sufler- 



I 



158 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

ings and to provide means for alleviating their 
distress. 

Public attention was now called to them as 
an injured people, and from this period dates 
the era of their greatest prosperity. The recital 
of their persecutions was found to excite sym- 
pathy from every quarter, and zealously was it 
employed as a means of securing influence and 
respect. A correspondence was kept up with 
Smith and the other head men who were re- 
tained in jail, until in the course of a few 
months they were able personally to co-operate 
with their followers. The following account 
of their treatment while thus retained, and the 
manner of their escape, is in the language of 
Mr. Rigdon : — 

"After we were cast into prison we heard no- 
thing but threatenings, that if any judge or jury, 
or court of any kind, should clear any of us, 
that we should never get out of the state alive. 
This soon determined our course, and that was 
to escape out of their hands as soon as we 
could, and by any means we could. After we 
had been some length of time in prison, we de- 
manded a habeas corpus of Judge Turnham, one 
of the county judges, which, with some consi- 
derable reluctance, was granted. Great threat- 
enings were made at this time by the mob, that 
if any of us were liberated we should never get 
out of the county alive. After the investigation, 
one of our number was released from prison by 
the decision of the judge ; the remainder were 
committed to jail. He also returned with them 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 159 

until a favourable opportunity offered, which, 
through the friendship of the sheriff, Mr. Sa- 
muel Hadley, and the jailer, Mr. Samuel Til- 
lery, he was let out of the jail secretly in the 
night ; and being solemnly warned by them to 
be out of the state with as little delay as possi- 
ble, he made his escape. Being pursued by 
a body of armed men, it was through the direc- 
tion of a kind Providence that he escaped out 
of their hands and safely arrived in Quincy, 
Illinois. This was in February, A. D. 1839. 

In the May following, the remainder that 
were in the Liberty jail were taken to Davies 
county to be tried by a grand jury of the prin- 
cipal mobbers, in order to see if a bill of indict- 
ment could be found as could be expected from 
the characters of the jury. Bills were found, 
and they obtained a change of venue to Boon 
county ; accordingly, the sheriff of Davies 
county, with guards, started to take them from 
Davies to Boon county. On their way, after 
journeying a day or two, one evening the guard 
got drunk, they left them, and also made their 
escape to Quincy, Illinois." 

At the time of their greatest extremity the 
Mormons found a friend in Isaac Galland, a 
gentleman holding extensive landed interests 
in Illinois, and also a disputed title to an im- 
mense tract in Iowa, called the half-breed 
lands. To him the acquisition of one or two 
thousand industrious settlers upon his lands 
must at any time have been no small object. 
It was especially so in view of the complicated 



160 MORMO^'ISM AND THE MORMONS. 

litigation in which the half-breed tract was in- 
volved ; that being likely to terminate in favour 
• of the actual possessor. 

Some have supposed these facts sufficient to 
account for his course, without crediting so 
much to his magnanimity as others have done. 
At any rate, his proposals for disposing of the 
half-breed lands to the Mormons v/ere accepted 
by and with the advice of Joseph Smith, before 
the latter escaped from confinement. Subse- 
quently, Galland sold to the Mormons the site 
of the present town of Nauvoo, where he re- 
sided, together with large portions of adjoining 
territory. He granted them a long credit, and 
afterward accepted in payment their titles to 
land in Missouri. These arrangements were 
no doubt highly advantageous to both parties. 
It becomes interesting, however, to observe the 
objects and the spirit with which they were 
entered into by Dr. Galland. 

He had previously been noted as any thing 
rather than a religious man. Whether this new 
enterprise presented to him more attractions as 
a pecuniary speculation, a means of acquiring 
political influence, or as a grand infidel agency 
for the purpose of " revolutionizing the dogmas 
of powerful religious denominations," w^e will 
not attempt to decide. That each of these 
considerations had weight with him appears 
from the following letter, published in the 
Times and Seasons, by the person to whom it 
was addressed. J. Galland is indicated to be 
its author, not only by the number of stars 



MORMONISrvI AND THE MORMONS. 



161 



which represent his usual signature ; but also 
by expressions in it which no one else could 
have used. The reader is requested to observe 
carefully the suggestions contained therein, so 
that he may apprehend the triie origin of some 
of Smith's subsequent revelations. 

" Dear Sir, — It was my intention to have 
addressed you before this, but a multiplicity of 
engagements have hitherto prevented, and I am 
only enabled now to spare a few moments for 
that purpose. 

You are of course aware that an attempt 
to promulgate new doctrinal tenets in religion, 
is an enterprise of momentous magnitude, and 
it is an undertaking, which, in order to succeed, 
will require great reflection, a perfect know- 
ledge of the human character, and determined 
perseverance. Tact, energy, and talents, are 
indispensable, and will accomplish much ; yet 
they alone cannot prevail, without encouraging 
virtue, and discountenancing vice ; — general 
industry and moral conduct must exist in every 
community, or that community will totter and 
be dispersed. A systematic arrangement is 
also necessaiy in forming a plan for a new co- 
lony — taste in laying out the streets and 
squares, and skill in the architecture of the 
buildings are important. 

" Now, as regards your tenets, so far as I 
have had an opportunity of examining them, 
there appears nothing objectionable, but much 
to approve ; at any rate, some explanations 
made by you when I had the pleasure of seeing 
11 



162 



M0R3I0XISM AXD THE MORMONS. 



you, aroused my faculties to an extent not often 
experienced by me, and I am constrained to 
say, that your views appeared novel, very 
curious, and extremely plausible : I am not 
able to discover] why they are not based upon 
a foundation of truth : and if it be truth itself, 
what a tremendous moral power can be exerted 
by the denomination of Latter-day Saints, par- 
ticularly, if a large number possessing fine ta- 
lents of good cultivation co-operate with each 
other, all acting in unison, applying and con- 
centrating religion, intellect, and science, to the 
attainment of one grand object — should this take 
place, as I think it assuredly will, how noble 
will be the results — what an increase of num- 
bers — what an accession of political influence — 
ivJiat accumulations of icealtk ; and above all, 
what a broad and glorious foundation will be 
laid for building the triumphant church of the 
Latter-day Saints. There is no estimating the 
deep, spreading, iuimense power, of such an 
engine as religion : it goes on rising, enlarging, 
and subduing, conquering and to conquer. 
Amhitioji itself can hardly grasp in imagination 
the almost omnipotent force of such an agent as 
religion. The project of establishino^ a new 
religion, or rather extraordinary religious doc- 
trines, being magnificent in its character, will 
of course require means adapted to the end, and 
preparations commensurate with the splendour 
of the plan. In the first place, you want a suit- 
able rallying ground ; perhaps Nauvoo is as 
good as any, — it being a capital steam-boat 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 163 



landing, it is in that respect preferable to any 
that I know. You then want a temple that for 
size, proportions, and style, shall attract, sur- 
prise, and dazzle all beholders — it should be 
entirely unique, externally ; and in the interior, 
peculiar, imposing, and grand. Then you want 
clergymen of the highest mental superiority — 
men of education— men of profound research, 
subtle, ready logical reasoners, with easy man- 
ners, and powerful voices — then you should 
have such a choir of singers as was never be- 
fore organized. Thus arranged, you would see 
immediately, nearly every person, within a cir- 
cle of fifty miles, attending your church, and 
doubtless many of them become converts. 
School-houses should be built directly, and 
school the children young, for ' as the twig is 
bent the tree's inclined.' Other sects are ac- 
quiring great strength by acting upon the young, 
through the medium of Sunday schools, and 
other juvenile institutions. Your missionary 
arrangements are good, and should be pushed 
vigorously. Let those of intelligence, prudence, 
and pure piety, be employed in this service. 
If funds for a college could be collected, no- 
thing could be more valuable to you, as through 
it you would soon have, and send forth to the 
world, clergymen skilled in science, and cal- 
culated to strike conviction into the high and 
wealthy classes of society. 

You will say that 1 have been sketching 
schemes for mere worldly advantage, without 
contemplating the much more sublime specta- 



164 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 

cle, of a multitude of redeemed souls, prepared 
through your doctrines for an entrance into 
paradise. I have already said, that as yet no 
sufficient time has presented itself, for me to 
analyze very fully your tenets, but this I can 
say in great sincerity, that should these doc- 
trines promote the happiness of mankind here, 
and secure their salvation hereafter, no person 
could feel the enjoyment more intensely ; and 
I probably feel some degree of pride and vanity, 
as I shall claim to have selected the spot where 
a concentration of moral power will exist, which 
shall revolutionize the dogmas of very powerful 
religious denominations, and teach them to 
know, that many discoveries are yet to be made 
in theological science. Your obedient servant, 

With such brilliant conceptions of worldly 
advancement before his mind, it is not wonder- 
ful that this individual was disposed to second 
the "magnificent project of founding a new 
religion." Nor is it more wonderful that in a 
short time he should become so much inter- 
ested in Mormonism as to profess conversion 
to its dogmas, and to take upon himself the 
office of an elder in the church of Latter-day 
Saints. A circular of the first presidency says 
respecting him, Being a man of extensive 
information, great talents, and high literary 
fame, he devoted all his powers and influence 
to give us a character." It was certainly then 
no more than reasonable that due respect should 
be shown to his advice. By his means a new 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 165 



" promised land" was provided for those who 
having been successively dispossessed of two 
" eternal inheritances" might well have despair- 
ed of finding a third. Respecting the eligi- 
bility of the new place of gathering no doubt 
can be entertained. It is at the head of the 
Des Moines or Lower Rapids of the Missis- 
sippi, extending on both sides of that great 
river, and embracing large portions of Hancock 
county, Illinois, and of Lee county, Iowa. The 
region possesses vast agricultural resources and 
commercial advantages of equal importance. 
The existing number of Mormons was quite in- 
sufficient to fully occupy such extensive openings. 
Their missionary enterprises were resumed with 
a zeal unknown before. A delegation had been 
to England as early as 1837. Their success hav- 
ing been such as to encourage further attempts, 
the ^tc'e/t'e being duly commissioned, proceeded by 
different routes, preaching on their way till they 
arrived at New-York, and thence sailed for Li- 
verpool. 

About this time Mormonism received another 
important accession in the person of John C. 
Bennett, M. D., a man who either through po- 
litical management or political influence held 
the office of quarter-master-general to the state 
of Illinois, under Governor Carlin. 

Becoming an elder among the Latter-day 
Saints, he devoted all his energies to flie pro- 
motion of their cause. He toiled faithfully in 
the field, which is above represented as almost 
too boundless for even ambition herself, and 



3 66 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



already he has been rewarded with triple 
honours. This man's valour and spirit may be 
appreciated by reading the following extracts 
of correspondence, evidently from his pen : — 

" The grievances of this people must be re- 
dressed, and my hands shall help to do it — 
should they have to reach to the highest courts 
of heaven, dig to the lowest bowels of hell, or 
encompass the broad expanse of the universe 
of God, to consummate so desirable a result. 

J O A B, General in Israel.'' 

" Missouri has been to the saints like the bo- 
han upas to the w^eary pilgrim, and though my 
hands be bound, my feet fettered, and my 
tongue palsied, yet wdll I defend this people by 
the power of the great God, until they shall shine 
in righteousness among the nations of the earth 
like a glittering gem sparkling on a maiden's 
brow, and be envied only for their good works. 

" I speak advisedly, I speak knowingly, I 
speak by authority when I say that Joseph 
Smith and the heads of the church, and the 
church bodily, entertain the most kind and 
friendly feelings toward Gov. Garlin and the 
state government," &c. 

" JoAB, General in Israel." 

Many of the above expressions indicate of 
whom he had learned to be meek and lowly, 
especially in comparison with the following 
fragment of a letter from the pen of Joseph 
Smith, Jr., written to the church of Latter- 
day Saints, from Liberty jail, Mo. : — 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 167 



This poor man, (W. W. Phelps,) who pro- 
fesses to be much of a prophet, has no other 
dumb ass to ride but David Whitmer or to for- 
bid his madness when he goes up to curse Is- 
rael ; but this not being of the same kind of 
Balaam's therefore notwithstanding the angel 
appeared unto him yet he could not sufficiently 
penetrate his understanding but that he brays 
out cursings instead of blessings. Poor ass, 
whoever lives will see him and his rider perish 
like those who perished in the gainsaying of 
Core, or after the same condemnation unless 
they repent." Such are the terms in which a 
man, himself complaining of persecution, could 
find it in his heart to denounce two of his early 
friends. Phelps had for years been one of his 
most devoted followers. David Whitmer was 
one of the three witnesses to the coming forth 
of the Book of Mormon, and his name is still 
used to give credit to that villanous imposture. 

The especial attention of the reader is invited 
to the language and instructions contained in 
the following document, which may be consi- 
dered the Magna Charta of Mormonism, as now 
existing at Nauvoo. 

Extracts from a Revelation given to Joseph 
Smith, Jr., Jan, \9th, 1841. 
" Verily thus saith the Lord, unto you my 
servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with 
your offerings and acknowledgments which 
you have made ; for unto this end have I raised 
you up, that I might show forth my wisdom 



168 M0RM0XIS3I AND THE MORMONS. 



through the weak things of the earth. Your 
prayers are acceptable before me, and in an- 
swer to them, I say unto you, that you are now 
called, immediately to make a solemn procla- 
mation of my gospel, and of this stake which 
I have planted to be a corner-stone of Zion, 
which shall be polished with that refinement 
which is after the similitude of a palace. This 
proclamation shall be made to all the kings of 
the world, to the four corners thereof — to the 
honourable president elect, and the high-minded 
governors of the nation in which you live, and 
to all the nations of the earth scattered abroad. 
Let it be written in the spirit of meekness, and 
by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall 
be in you at the time of the writing of the same; 
for it shall be given you by the Holy Ghost to 
know my will concerning those kings and au- 
thorities, even what shall befall them in a time 
to come. For, behold i I am about to call on 
them to give heed to the light and glory of 
Zion, for the set time has come to favour her. 

" Call ye, therefore, upon them with loud 
proclamation and with your testimony, fearing 
them not, for they are as grass, and all their 
glory as the flower thereof, which soon falleth, 
that they may be left also without excuse, and 
that I may visit them in the day of visitation, 
when I shall unveil the face of my covering, to 
appoint the portion of the oppressor among 
hypocrites, where there is gnashing of teeth, if 
they reject my servants and ray testimony which 
I have revealed unto them. And, again, I will 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 169 

visit and soften their hearts, many of them, for 
your good, that ye may find grace in their eyes, 
that they may come to the light of truth, and 
the Gentiles to the exaltation or lifting up of 
Zion. For the day of my visitation cometh 
speedily, and in an hour when ye think not of, 
and where shall be the safety of my people ? 
and refuge for those w^ho shall be left of them ? 
Awake! kings of the earth! Come ye, O! come 
ye with your gold and your silver, to the help of 
my people — to the house of the daughter of Zion . 

''And again, verily I say unto you, let my 
servant Robert B. Thompson help you to write 
this proclamation, for I am well pleased with 
him, and that he should be with you ; let him, 
therefore, hearken to your counsel, and I will 
bless him with a multiplicity of blessings ; let 
him be faithful and true in all things from hence- 
forth, and he shall be great in mine eyes ; but 
let him remember that his stewardship will I 
require at his hands. 

" And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is 
my servant Hyrum Smith, for I the Lord loveth 
him, because of the integrity of his heart, and 
because he loveth that which is right before me 
saith the Lord. 

" Again, let my servant John C. Bennett help 
you in your labour, in sending my word to the 
kings and people of the earth, and stand by you, 
even you my servant Joseph Smith, in the hour 
of affliction, and his reward shall not fail if he 
receive counsel ; and for his love, he shall he 
great; for he shall be mine if he does this, saith 



170 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

the Lord. I have seen the work he hath done, 
which I accept, if he continue ; and will crown 
him with blessings and great glory. 

" And again, I say unto you, that it is my will 
that my servant Lyman Wight should continue 
in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, 
confessing me before the world, and I will bear 
him up as on eagle's wings, and he shall beget 
glory and honour to himself and to my name, 
that when he shall finish his w^ork, I may re- 
ceive him unto myself, even as I did my ser- 
vant David Patten, who is with me at this time, 
and also my servant Edward Partridge, and also 
my aged servant Joseph Smith, Sen., who sitteth 
with Abraham, at his right hand, and blessed and 
holy is he, for he is mine. 

" And again, verily I say unto you, my ser- 
vant George Miller is without guile, he may he 
trusted because of the integrity of his heart ; 
and for the love which he has to my testimony ; 
I the Lord \oYeth him. I therefore say unto 
you, I seal upon his head the ofice of a bishop- 
ric, like unto my servant Edward Partridge, 
that he may receive the consecrations of mine 
house, that he may administer blessings upon 
the heads of the poor of my people, saith the 
Lord. Let no man despise my servant George, 
for he shall honour me. Let my servant George, 
and my servant Lyman, and my servant John 
Snider, and others, build a house unto my name, 
such a one as my servant Joseph shall show 
unto them, upon the place which he shall show 
unto them also. And it shall be for a house of 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 171 

hoarding, a house that strangers may come from 
afar to lodge therein — therefore let it be a good 
house^ worthy of all acceptation, that the weary 
traveller may find health and safety, while he 
shall contemplate the word of the Lord, and the 
corner-stone I have appointed for Zion. This 
house shall be a healthy habitation, if it be built 
unto my name, and if the governor which shall 
be appointed unto it, shall not suffer any pollu- 
tion to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the 
Lord your God will not dwell therein. 

"And again, verily, verily I say unto you, let 
all my saints from afar; and send ye swift mes- 
sengers, yea chosen messengers, and say unto 
them. Come ye with all your gold, and your 
silver, and your precious stones, and with all 
your antiquities ; and with all who have know- 
ledge of antiquities, that will come may come, 
and bring the box tree and the fir tree, and the 
pine tree, together with all the precious trees 
of the earth, and with iron, and with copper, and 
with brass, and with zink, and with all your 
precious things of the earth, and build a house 
to my name, for the Most High to dwell there- 
in ; for there is not place found on earth, that 
he may come and restore again that which was 
lost unto you, or, which he hath taken away, 
even the fulness of the priesthood; for a bap- 
tismal font there is not upon the earth; that 
they, my saints, may be baptized for those who 
are dead ; for this ordinance belongeth to my 
house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in 
the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not 



172 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

able to build a bouse unto me. But I command 
yoUj all ye my saints, to build a bouse unto me, 
and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a 
house unto me ; and during this time your hap- 
tisms shall he acceptable unto me. But, behold, 
at the end of this appointment, your baptisms 
for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me ; 
and if you do not these things, at the end of the 
appointment, ye shall he rejected as a church with 
your dead, saith the Lord your God. For, verily, 
I say unto you, that after you -have had suffi- 
cient time to build a house unto me, wherein 
the ordinance of baptism for the dead belong- 
eth, and for which the same was instituted from 
before the foundation of the world, your bap- 
tisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto 
me, for therein are the keys of the holy priest- 
hood ordained, that you may receive honour and 
glory. And after this time, your baptisms for 
the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, 
are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord; for 
it is ordained that in Zion and in her stakes, 
and in Jerusalem, those places which I have 
appointed for refuge, shall be the places for the 
baptisms for your dead. 

" And again, verily I say unto you, how shall 
your washings be acceptable unto me, except 
ye perform them in a house which you have 
built to my name 1 For, for this cause I com- 
manded Moses, that he should build a taberna- 
cle, that they should bear it with them in the 
wilderness, and to build a house in the land of 
promise, that those ordinances might be reveal- 



MORMONISIvI AND THE MORMONS. 



173 



ed, which had been hid from before the world 
was ; therefore verily I say unto you, that your 
anointings, and your washings, and your bap- 
tisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, 
and your memorials for your sacrifices, by the 
sons of Levi, and your oracles in your most 
holy places, wherein you receive conversations, 
and your statutes, and judgments, for the begin- 
ning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, 
and for the glory, honour, and adornment of all 
her municiples, are ordained by the ordinance 
of my holy house, which my people are always 
commanded to build unto my holy name. 

" And verily I say unto you, let this house be 
built unto my name, that I may reveal mine or- 
dinances therein unto my people ; for / design 
to reveal unto my church, things which have 
been kept hid from the foundation of the world 
— things that pertain to the dispensation of the 
fulness of times; and I will show unto my ser- 
vant Joseph, all things pertaining to this house, 
and the priesthood thereof, and the place 
whereon it shall be built ; and ye shall build 
it on the place where you have contemplated 
building it, for that is the spot which I have 
chosen for you to build it. If ye labour with 
all your anights, I will consecrate that spot, that 
it shall be made holy ; and if my people will 
hearken to my voice, and unto the voice of my 
servants whom I have appointed, to lead my 
people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall 
not be moved out of their place. But if they 
will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice 



174 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



of those men whom I have appointed, they 
shaR not be blest, because they pollute my 
holy grounds, and my holy ordinances, and 
charters^ and my holy words, which I give unto 
them. 

" And it shall come to pass, that if you build 
a house unto my name, and do not do the things 
that I say, I will not perform the oath which I 
make unto you, neither fulfil the promises 
which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord : 
for, instead of blessings, ye, by your own 
works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and 
judgment upon your ow^n heads by your follies, 
and by all your abominations, which you prac- 
tise before me, saith the Lord. 

" Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I 
give a commandment to any of the sons of men, 
to do a work unto my name, and those sons of 
men go with all their mights, and with all they 
have, to perform that work, and cease not their 
diligence, and their enemies come upon them, 
and hinder them from performing that work, 
behold, it behooveth me to require that work 
no more at the hands of those sons of men, but 
to accept of their offerings ; and the iniquity 
and transgression of my holy laws and com- 
mandments, I will visit upon the heads of those 
who hindered my work, unto the third and 
fourth generation, so long as they repent not, 
and hate me, saith the Lord God. Therefore, 
for this cause have I accepted the offerings of 
those men whom I commanded to build up a 
city and a house unto my name in Jackson 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



175 



county, Missouri, and were hindered by their 
enemies, saith the Lord your God : and I will 
answer judgment, wrath, indignation, wailing, 
anguish and gnashing of teeth, upon their heads, 
unto the third and fourth generation, so long as 
they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord 
your God. And this I make an ensample unto 
you, for your consolation, concerning all those 
who have been commanded to do a work, and 
have been hindered by the hands of their ene- 
mies, and by oppression, saith the Lord your 
God ; for I am the Lord your God, and will 
save all those of your brethren who have been 
pure in heart, and have been slain in the land 
of Missouri, saith the Lord. 

" And again, verily I say unto you, I com- 
mand you again to build a house to my name, 
even in this place, that ye may prove yourselves 
unto me, that ye are faithful in all things what- 
soever I command you, that I may bless you, 
and crown you with honour, immortality, and 
eternal life. 

" And now, I say unto you, as pertaining to 
my hoarding-house^ which I have commanded 
you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it 
be built unto my name, and let my name be 
named upon it, and let my servant Joseph and 
HIS HOUSE have place therein from generation 
to generation. For this anointing have I put 
upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put 
upon the heads of his posterity after him, and as 
I said unto Abraham, concerning the kindreds 
of the earth, even so, T say unto my servant 



176 



M0R3I0NISM AND THE MORMONS. 



Joseph, in thee, and in thy seed, shall the kin- 
dreds of the earth be blessed. 

Therefore, let my servant Joseph, and his 
seed after him, have place in that house from 
generation to generation for ever and ever, saith 
the Lord, and let the name of that house be 
called the Nauvoo House, and let it be a de- 
lightful habitation for man, and a resting place 
for the weary traveller, that he may contem- 
plate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this the 
corner-stone thereof ; that he may receive, also, 
the counsel from those whom I have sent to be 
as plants of renown, and as v/atchmen upon her 
walls. 

" Behold! verily I say unto you, let my ser- 
vant George Miller, and my servant Lyman 
Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my 
servant Peter Havves, organize themselves, and 
appoint one of them to be a president over their 
quorum for the purpose of building that house. 

" And again, verily I say unto you, if my 
servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman 
Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my ser- 
vant Peter Hawes, receive any stock into their 
hands, in moneys, or in iiroperties wherein they 
receive the real value of moneys, they shall not 
appropriate any portion of that stock to any other 
purpose, only in that house ; and if they do ap- 
propriate any portion of that stock anywhere 
else, only in that house, without the consent of 
the stockholders, and do not repay four-fold, they 
shall be accursed, and shall be removed out of 
their place saith the Lord God, for I the Lord 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



177 



am God, and cannot be mocked in any of these 
things. 

"Let my servant Yinson Knight lift up his 
voice long and loud in the midst of the people, 
to plead the cause of the poor and needy, and 
let him not fail, neither let his heart faint, and 
I will accept of his offerings, for they shall not 
be unto me as the offerings of Cain, for he shall 
be mine, saith the Lord. Let his family rejoice 
and turn away their hearts from affliction, for I 
have chosen and anointed him, and he shall be 
honoured in the midst of his house, for I will 
forgive all his sins, saith the Lord. Amen. 

"Let my servant Isaac Galland put stock in 
that house, for I the Lord loveth him for the 
work he hath done, and will forgive all his sins, 
therefore let him be remembered for an interest 
in that house from generation to generation. 
Let my servant Isaac Galland be appointed 
among you, and be ordained by my servant 
William Marks, and be blessed of him, to go 
with my sen^ant Hyrum to accomplish the work 
that my servant Joseph shall point out to them, 
and they shall be greatly blessed.* 

" Let my servant William Law pay stock in 
that house for himself and his seed after him, 
from generation to generation. If he will do 
my will let him not take his family unto the 
eastern lands, even unto Kirtland ; nevertheless 
I the Lord will build up Kirtland, but I the 

* This work was to visit Washington among the crowd 
of office and favour-seekers who thronged that capitol on 
the accession of General Harrison to the presidency. 
12 



178 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 

Lord have a scourge prepared for the inhabit- 
ants thereof. Let no man go from this place 
who has come here assaying to keep my com- 
mandments. If they live here, let them live 
unto me, and if they die, let them die unto me ; 
for they shall rest from all their labours here, 
and shall continue their works. Therefore, let 
my servant William put his trust in me, and 
cease to fear concerning his family, because 
of the sickness of the land. If ye love me keep 
my commandments, and the sickness of the 
land shall redound to your glory. 

" Let my servant William go and proclaim 
mine everlasting gospel, with a loud voice, and 
with great joy, as he shall be moved upon by 
my spirit, unto the inhabitants of Warsaw, and 
also unto the inhabitants of Carthage, and also 
unto the inhabitants of Burlington, and also 
unto the inhabitants of Madison, and then await 
patiently and diligently for further instructions 
at MY general conference, saith the Lord. If 
he will do my will let him, from henceforth, 
hearken to the counsel of my servant Joseph, 
and with his interest support the cause of the 
poor, and publish the new translation of my holy 
word unto the inhabitants of the earth ; and if 
he will do this, I will bless him with a multi- 
plicity of blessings, that he shall not be for- 
saken. 

" And again, verily I say unto you, let my 
servant William be appointed, ordained, and 
anointed as a counsellor unto my servant Jo- 
seph, in the room of my servant Hyrum ; that 



MORMONISM ASD THE MORMONS. 



179 



my servant Hyrum may take the office of priest- 
hood and patriarch, which was appointed unto 
him by his father, by blessing and also by right, 
that from henceforth he shall hold the keys of 
the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all 
my people, that whoever he blesses shall be 
blessed, and whoever he curseth shall be cursed 
— that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall 
be bound in heaven, and whatsoever he shall 
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven ; and 
from this time forth, I appoint unto him, that he 
may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator 
unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph, 
that he may act in concert also with my servant 
Joseph, and that he shall receive counsel from 
my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him 
the keys, w^hereby he may ask and receive, 
and be crowned with the same blessings. I 
crown upon his head the bishopric, and bless- 
ing, and glory, and honour, and priesthood, and 
gifts of the priesthood, that once were put upon 
him, that was my servant Oliver Cowdery; that 
my servant Hyrum may bear record of the 
things which I shall show unto him, that his 
name may be had in honourable remembrance 
from generation to generation for ever and ever. 
Let my servant William Law also receive the 
keys, by which he may ask and receive bless- 
ings ; let him be humble before me, and be 
without guile, and he shall receive my spirit, 
even the comforter, which shall manifest unto 
him the truth of all things, and shall give him 
in the very hour what he shall say, and these 



180 M0RM0NIS3I AND THE MORMONS. 



signs shall follow him : he shall heal the sick, 
he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered 
from those who would administer unto him 
deadly poison, and shall be led in paths where 
the poisonous serpent cannot lay hold upon his 
heel ; and he shall mount up as upon eagle's 
wings ; and, what if I will that he should raise 
the dead, let him not withhold his voice. There- 
'fore, let my servant William cry aloud and spare 
not, with joy and rejoicing, and with hosannas 
to him that sitteth upon the throne for ever and 
ever, saith the Lord your God. 

Behold ! I say unto you, I have a mission 
in store for my servant William, and my servant 
Hyrum, and for them alone, and let my servant 
Joseph tarry at home, for he is needed ; the re- 
mainder I will show unto you hereafter, even 
so. Amen. 

And again, verily I say unto you, if my 
servant Sidney will serve me, and be a coun- 
sellor unto my servant Joseph, let him arise, 
and come up and stand in the office of his call- 
ing, and humble himself before me ; and if he 
will offer unto me an acceptable offering and 
acknowledgments, and remain with my people ; 
behold I the Lord your God will heal him that 
he shall be healed, and he shall lift up his voice 
again on the mountains, and be a spokesman 
before my face. Let him come and locate his 
family in the neighbourhood in which my servant 
Joseph resides, and in all his journeyings let him 
lift up his voice as with the sound of a trump, and 
warn the inhabitants of the earth to flee the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 181 

wrath to come : let him assist my servant Joseph, 
and also, let my servant William Law assist my 
servant Joseph in making a proclamation unto 
the kings of the earth, even as I have before 
said unto you. If my servant Sidney will do 
my will, let him not move his family unto the 
eastern lands, but let him change their habita- 
tion even as I have said. Behold it is not my 
will that he shall seek to find safety and refuge 
out of the city which I have appointed unto you, 
even the city of Nauvoo. Verily I say unto 
you, even now, if he will hearken to my voice 
it shall be \^1] with him." 

Should any individual be still in doubt re- 
specting the true character of Mormonism, a 
perusal of the above document ought to satisfy 
him. The italicising is our own, done with a 
view to saving ourselves the labour of comment, 
in pointing out its beauties of style and senti- 
ment. Let the reader reflect. The above lan- 
guage purports to have been uttered by the 
Almighty Ruler of the universe. Profanity, 
where is thy blush ! A proclamation is to be 
made to the kings of the world, the president 
elect and the governors of the nation : " O come 
ye with your gold and silver to the help of 
my people, [the Mormons,] to the house of the 
daughter of Zion." 

In order to understand the propriety of the 
scheme requiring a boarding-house to be erected 
for the Lord, the reader perhaps needs to be 
informed that, according to Mormonism, God is 
a material being! On this subject more anon 



182 



M0R3I0NISM AXE THE MORMONS. 



As to Joseph Smith requiring a portion of said 
house (to cost §100,000) to be settled on him 
and his heirs in due form of law, there is no 
mystery at all. The veriest simpleton can 
comprehend that. The Mormon religion had 
its origin in one of his plans "to get rid of 
work," and it may with all propriety be per- 
fected by a scheme for enriching his heirs. 

It appears from the above revelation that a 
falling out had occurred between the prophet 
and Rigdon, for which the latter had to do pen- 
ance by moving nearer to his master Joseph, 
instead of being at liberty to x^tire from a 
locality that had nearly cost him his life through 
severe sickness. This affair appears to have 
been settled soon after by a conciliatory mea- 
sure, according to which Rigdon was " ordained 
a prophet, seer, and revelator." 

Not long subsequent to the issue of the edict 
copied above, Bennett was appointed a delegate 
to Springfield, where he obtained from the 
legislature of Illinois, then in session, very 
ample and favourable charters for the city of 
Nauvoo, a literary institution to be denominated 
the Nauvoo University, and a military body to 
be called the Nauvoo Legion. What should 
the Rev. J. C. Bennett, M. D., immediately be- 
come but mayor of the city, major-general of the 
legion, and chancellor of the university ? He 
has since been appointed master in chancery! ! 
What a weight of blooming honours ! ! ! 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 183 



CHAPTER XIL 

Military organisation — General orders — Astonishing 
parade — Smith outdoes Matthias — Progress of the sect in 
JEngland — Letter to the queen — Literary eminence — 
Moving orders — Dissatisfaction among the emigrants — 
Latest instructions — Advantages of the Mormon policy. 

An extensive military organization, although 
not expressly mentioned in Galland's letter, 
corresponds to his general policy, and has been 
vigorously taken in hand by the valorous Gen. 
Bennett, It was manifestly designed to an- 
swer several important objects, 

1. To serve as a check to the quarrelsome 
propensities of some of their neighbours. 2. To 
put themselves in a condition to resist, and re- 
venge any future attack, 3. To make use of 
the pomp and circumstance of military parade, 
as a means of astonishing the natives, and of 
drawing in a class of adherents that could be 
secured in no other way. 

Nevertheless, the majority of the Mormons 
were peaceable people, and great efforts had 
to be put forth in order to secure their enlist- 
ment, especially when they were required in 
their poverty to provide an expensive uniform. 
Yet poor as they were, following the example 
of their elders and the summons of their pro- 
phet, most of them have now become soldiers. 
The martial style in which they display them- 
selves from time to time has already been cele- 
brated in the most extravagant strains of both 
prose and verse. 



184 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 



We subjoin a few extracts from the general 
orders of this redoubtable legion : — 

" NAUVOO LEGION. 
*' Head-Quarters, Nauvoo Legion, ) 
City of Nauvoo, III, May 4, A. D. 1841. I 
"general orders. 

" Pursuant to an act of the court-martial, the 
troops attached or belonging to the legion will 
parade at the place of general rendezvous, in 
the city of Nauvoo, for drill, review, and in- 
spection, on Saturday, the 3d day of July prox- 
imo, at half-past 9 o'clock, A. M., armed and 
equipped according to law. 

"At 10 o'clock the line will be formed, and 
the general officers conducted to their posts, 
under a fire of artillery. 

" The lieutenant general desires that all Ms 
friends should attach themselves to some compa- 
ny, either in the \st or 2d cohort. This will en- 
able them to receive correct military instruc- 
tion under the teachings of experienced officers, 
according to the drill and discipline of the 
United States army — and qualify them for effi- 
cient service in the cause of their beloved coun- 
try, and state, in the hour of peril. 

" The eleven companies of minute men will 
at all times hold themselves in readiness to ex- 
ecute the laws, as originally instructed by the 
general officers." 

" Head-Quarters, Nauvoo Legion, ) 
City of Nauvoo, Illinois, May 25th, A. D. 1841. 5 
" general orders. 
"The 1st company, (riflemen,) 1st battalion, 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 185 

2d regiment, 2d cohort, will be attached to the 
escort contemplated in the general orders of 
the 4th inst., for the 3d of July next. 

" In forming the legion the adjutant will ob- 
serve the rank of companies as follows, to wit : 

" 1st cohort — the flying artillery first, the 
lancers next, and the riflemen next : visiting 
companies of dragoons next the lancers, and 
cavalry next the dragoons. 

" 2d cohort — the artillery first, the lancers 
next, the riflemen next, the light infantry next, 
and the infantry next: visiting companies in 
their appropriate places on the right of the 
troops of their own grade : the ranking company 
of the 1st cohort will be formed on the right of 
said cohort, and the ranking company of the 
2d cohort will be formed on the left of said co- 
hort ; the next on the left of the right ; the next 
on the right of the left ; and so on to the cen- 
tre. The escort will be formed on the right of 
the forces. 

"Joseph Smith, Lieutenant General. 

"John C.Bennett, Major General." 

On the occasion provided for by the above 
orders, the Times and Seasons remarks, " The 
N. Legion appeared in its glory, and presented 
a beautiful appearance. It will soon compare 
with the best military organization in the 
Union." 

A still greater performance was had on the 
occasion of laying the corner-stones of the new 
temple. One of the gentlemen appointed to 



186 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

assist in drawing up the proclamation to the 
kings of the world and the president elect," 
thus commences his description of the parade — 

" O that I could paint the scenes, 

Which on my heart are sketched.*' 

After some preliminary flourishes, he pro- 
ceeds — 

''At eight o'clock, A. M., Major General 
Bennett left his quarters to organize and pre- 
pare the legion for the duties of the day, which 
consisted of about fourteen companies, several 
in uniform, besides several companies from 
Iowa, and other parts of the country, which 
joined them on the occasion. 

" At half-past nine Lieut. General Smith was 
informed that the legion was organized and 
ready for review, and immediately, accompa- 
nied by his staff, consisting of four aids-de- 
camp, and twelve guards, nearly all in splendid 
uniforms, took his march to the parade ground. 
On their approach they were met by the band, 
beautifully equipped, who received them with 
a flourish of trumpets and a regular salute, and 
then struck up a lively air, marching in front to 
the stand of the lieut. general. On his approach 
to the parade ground the artillery was again 
fired, and the legion gave an appropriate salute 
while passing. This was indeed a glorious 
sight, such as we never saw, nor did we ever 
expect to see such a one in the west. The 
several companies presented a beautiful and in- 
teresting spectacle, several of them being uni- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 



187 



formed and equipped, while the rich and 
COSTLY dresses of the officers would have be- 
come a Bonaparte or a Washington. 

" After the arrival of Lieut. General Smith, 
the ladies, who had made a beautiful silk flag, 
drove up in a carriage, to present it to the le- 
gion. Maj. General Bennett very politely at- 
tended on them, and conducted them in front 
of Lieut. General Smith, who immediately 
alighted from his charger, and walked up to the 
ladies, who presented the flag, making an ap- 
propriate address. Lieut. General Smith ac- 
knowledged the honour conferred upon the le- 
gion, and stated that as long as he had the 
command, it should never be disgraced ; and 
then politely bowing to the ladies, gave it into 
the hands of Maj. General Bennett, who placed 
it in possession of Cornet Robinson, and it was 
soon seen gracefully waving in front of the 
legion. During the time of presentation the 
band struck up a lively air, and another salute 
was fired from the artillery. 

"After the presentation of the flag, Lieut. Ge- 
neral Smith, accompanied by his suite, reviewed 
the legion, which presented a very imposing 
appearance, the diff'erent oflicers saluting as he 
passed. Lieut. General Smith then took his 
former stand, and the whole legion, by compa- 
nies, passed before him in review 

" THE PROCESSION. 

" Immediately after the review. Gen. Bennett 
organized the procession, to march to the founda- 



188 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS, 



tion of the temple, in the following order, to 
wit : 

" Lieut. Gen. Smith, 
Brig. Generals Law and Smith, 
Aids-de-camp, and conspicuous strangers, 
General staff, 
Band, 

2nd cohort, (foot troops,) 

Ladies, eight abreast. 
Gentlemen, eight abreast, 
1st cohort, (horse troops.) 

" Owing to the vast numbers who joined in 
the procession, it was a considerable length of 
time before the w^hole could be organized. 

" The procession then began to move forward 
in order, and on their arrival at the Temple block, 
the generals, with their staffs and the distinguish- 
ed strangers present, took their position inside 
the foundation, the ladies formed on the outside 
immediately next the walls, the gentlemen and 
infantry behind, and the cavalry in the rear. 

" The assembly being stationed, the choris- 
ters, under the superintendence of B. S. "Wilber, 
sung an appropriate hymn. 

" Prest. Rigdon then ascended the platform, 
w^hich had been prepared for the purpose, and 
delivered a suitable Oration, w^hich w^as lis- 
tened to with the most profound attention by 
the assembly." 

This verily beats [Matthias. That prophet, 
with all the splendour of his long beard, his 
green frock coat, and his red sash, would not 
bear comparison with Lieutenant General Jo- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 189 

seph Smith in regimentals. The former claimed 
to be the Almighty himself ; but the latter is 
content with making people believe him to be 
God's chief revelator. The former, though the 
older man, was childish enough to be 

" Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw," 
Smith " struts a soldier," uniformed and equip- 
ped in a dress so rich and costly that it would 
have become a Bonaparte or a Washington ! 

We here take occasion to remark, that the 
mayor of Nauvoo deserves praise for the stand 
he has taken in favour of temperance. The 
retailing of ardent spirits is not permitted within 
the bounds of the corporation, and to the credit 
of the Nauvoo House no intoxicating drinks are 
to be used or vended in that edifice. 

As some of our readers may design visiting 
Nauvoo, we have no doubt they would be in- 
terested in learning what preparations are al- 
ready in progress for their reception. We 
therefore give a part of the 

" CHARTER FOR THE NAUVOO HOUSE. 

"An act to incorporate the Nauvoo House Association. 

" Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the 
state of Illinois, represented in the General 
Assembly, that George Miller, Lyman Wight, 
John Snider, and Peter Hawes, and their asso- 
ciates, are hereby declared a body corporate, 
under the name and style of the Nauvoo House 
Association , and they are hereby authorized to 
erect and furnish a public house of entertain- 
ment, to be called the ' Nauvoo House.' 



190 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

" Sec. 3. The said trustees are further author- 
ized and empowered to obtain by stock sub- 
scription, by themselves or their duly authorized 
agents, the sum of one hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars, which shall be divided into shares 
of fifty dollars each. 

" Sec. 7. They shall also take the general 
care and supervision in procuring materials for 
said house, and constructing and erecting the 
same, and further to superintend its general 
management, and to do and perform all mat- 
ters and things which may be necessary to be 
done in order to secure the interests and pro- 
mote the objects of this association. 

" Sec. 8. This association shall continue 
twenty years from the passage of this act, and 
the house herein provided for shall be kept for 
the accommodation of strangers, travellers, and 
all other persons who may resort thereto, for 
rest and refreshment. 

"Sec. 9. It is moreover established as a per- 
petual rule of said house, to be observed by all 
persons who may keep or occupy the same, that 
spirituous liquors of every description are pro- 
hibited, and that such liquors shall never be 
vended as a beverage, or introduced into com- 
mon use, in said house. 

" Sec. 10. And whereas Joseph Smith has 
furnished the said association with the ground 
whereon to erect said house, it is further de- 
clared, that the said Smith, and his heirs, shall 
hold by perpetual succession a suite of rooms in 
the said house^ to be set apart and conveyed in 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 191 

due form of law to him and his heirs by said 
trustees as soon as the same are completed.''^ 

It is to be hoped that the prophet's rooms 
will not occupy the whole house. 

We have already mentioned that the twelve 
were despatched soon after the Missouri per- 
secution on a special mission to England. 
The following extracts from their official cor- 
respondence will show the success they met 
with : — 

G. A. Smith writes from Staffordshire, June 
6th, 1840, " The principles of the church of the 
Latter-day Saints are gaining rapidly in differ- 
ent parts of the kingdom. Some fifty or sixty 
preachers, of different denominations, have been 
baptized since we landed in England, and thou- 
sands and thousands of people have believed 
our testimony; although we have met with 
some opposition, it has always turned in our 
favour, and many are constantly believing." 

W. Woodruff says, in a letter dated Man* 
Chester, 8th July, 1840, *'We have held two 
conferences of late in the south of England, 
where I have been labouring. The first was 
held at the Gadfield Elm-chapel, Worcestershire, 
June 14th. We had an interesting time. We 
organized twelve churches, and transacted much 
business. The other was held on the 21st of 
June, at Stanlx Hill, Herefordshire. Elder 
Richards and myself conducted the meeting, 
with the help of God ; and I never saw more 
business executed in one day than on this oc- 
casion. We organized twenty churches, ordain- 



192 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS* 



ed four elders, seven priests, and four teachers ; 
baptized ten, confirmed twenty, and blessed 
twenty children ; besides a multitude of other 
business, and broke bread to several hundred 
saints, &c. * * * * ^j^g work had been 
so rapid, it was impossible to ascertain the ex- 
act number belonging to each branch, but the 
whole number is thirty-three churches, five 
hundred and thirty-four members, seventy-five 
officers, viz., ten elders, fifty-two priests, and 
thirteen teachers, all of which had embraced 
the work in less than four months. * * * * 

" We have set all the churches in that re- 
gion in order, with officers to preside over them ; 
and they are now baptizing daily. * * * * 

" The foundation is now laid in such a man- 
ner in this country, and new. doors opening in 
England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, so that 
we have every reason to expect a greater in- 
crease for three months to come than has been 
in the three that are past." 

A joint letter from Elders Kimball, Wood- 
ruff", and Smith, London, Aug. 20, 1840, states, 
" We held a camp-meeting at the Leigh, Glou- 
cestershire, on the 16th. We had a good time 
with the saints ; baptized fifteen, and ordained 
one elder and two priests." 

An editorial in connection with the above, 
says, " The prospect is brightening in Manches- 
ter and the region around. More than twenty 
were confirmed at the Carpenter's Hall last 
sabbath, and ten the sabbath previous. The 
assembly is enlarging daily." 



MGRMONISM AND TME MORMONS. 193 



" From many other places we have no par- 
ticular and direct information, but so far as we 
have, the work is prospering more and more, 
and the spirit of inquiry is continually gaining 
ground among the people." 

W. Woodruff, in a letter from Manchester, 
dated Oct. 8, 1840, gives the following particu- 
lars : " On Saturday, the 7th, (of some previous 
month,) I spent the day in preparing a pool for 
baptizing, for I saw there was much to be done. 
On Sunday, the 8th, T preached at brother Ben- 
bow's before a large congregation, and baptized 
seven ; four were preachers. I confirmed thir- 
teen, and broke bread unto them. * * * * 
On the 9th I preached at Stanley Hill, and 
baptized seven; two were preachers. On the 
10th I preached again at brother Benbow's, 
and baptized twelve ; three were preachers. * * 
The report of these things flew through all 
parts of the country like electricity, and the 
whole country was stirred up to inquire into 
these matters. 

" The Church minister of Froom's Hill, or 
Bishop Froom, called upon the constable of 
that parish to take me up ; but he called upon 
the wrong man, for as soon as he saw me he 
received my testimony, and I baptized him. 
Next, one of the Church clerks attended one of 
my meetings, to see what I was doing, and 
likewise he received my testimony, and when 
meeting v/as closed said he would soon be bap- 
tized. * * * On Sunday, the 29th, I preached 
three times at Froom's Hill, baptized thirteen, 
13 



194 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 

eonfirmed thirty-five, and broke bread unto 
eighty saints. * * * I arose next morning, 
and baptized five preachers and four members, 
I then immediately walked to the town of Sed- 
bury, distant six miles. I had not been in town 
an hour before many flocked around me, to see 
me, and give me the hand of fellowship, though 
strangers unto me. The Baptist minister opened 
his chapel for me to preach in, and went into 
the pulpit with me, and opened the meeting by 
reading the 35th chapter of Isaiah, and praying 
mightily for me. I then rose and preached to 
a large and attentive audience, and when I 
closed thirteen offered themselves for baptism, 
notwithstanding it was the first meeting we had 
held in the town. * # * * ^Yhe preachers 
of whom I speak were mostly United Brethren, 
a people who had formerly belonged to the Pri- 
mitive Methodist body, but had separated them- 
selves from that body, and chosen the former 
name. * * * # * 

"By this time doors were open on every 
hand, many more than I could possibly fill, and 
I was frequently called upon to go to pools 
three or four times in a day, to baptize those 
who received my testimony and believed the 
gospel." 

G. A. Smith writes again from Burslem, 
29th March, 1841, "The work is prospering in 
this country steadily, and with majesty and 
power truly worthy the cause of truth.(!) Hun- 
dreds are embracing the gospel, and thousands 
are rejbicing in the truth." 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 195 



L. Snow writes from London, April 14th, 
1841, — "Throughout all England, in almost 
every town and city of any considerable im- 
portance, we have chapels or public halls in 
which we meet for public worship. All over 
this vast kingdom the laws of Zion are rolling 
onward with the most astonishing rapidity. 
Though we expect tremendous persecutions, 
yet we are confident they will not for a mo- 
ment stay the onward progress and the roll- 
ing forth of Zion's glorious kingdom (Mormon- 
ism !) throughout, not only the British empire, 
but the universal world." 

Every one knows that rumour increases as 
it flies. Hence, it is not wonderful that the 
strange tales by which Mormonism was set 
afloat in this country should become sufficiently 
expanded in crossing the Atlantic to make a 
greater impression in England upon the proper 
subjects, than it ever effected here. Moreover, 
its apostles, having the advantage of their pre- 
vious experience, set themselves to work in 
systematic efforts to accomplish as much as 
possible in a short time. Addressing them- 
selves to the ignorant and the impoverished, 
with predictions of impending calamities, and 
with extravagant accounts of their promised 
land, they were enabled to secure followers in 
great numbers, while among the fanatical and 
disaffected members and ex-members of various 
religious bodies they doubtless found enough 
anxious to wear the high-sounding titles they 
conferred with so little ceremony, and to wield 



196 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



the influence of elders, high priests, and patri- 
archs. Availing themselves of the agency of 
the press, they published a fine edition of the 
Book of Mormon, a hymn-book, and various 
pamphlets, besides a periodical, established at 
Manchester, called the Millennial Star. That 
paper of April, 1841, gives the following as an 
official report of the number of Mormons in 
Great Britain. The officers enumerated are 
elders, priests, teachers, and deacons. 



Memb. Offic. Memb, Offic. 



Manchester, 


443 


30 


Carlisle, 


43 


1 


Clitheroe Conference 


, 318 


34 


Bolton, 


189 


21 


Preston, 


675 


42 


Dunkinfield, 


120 


11 


Liverpool, 


190 


24 


Stockport, 


161 


10 


Isle of Man, 


90 


8 


Norwich, 


112 


20 


London, 
Birmingham, 


137 


17 


Oldham, 


86 


8 


110 


22 


Eccles, 


24 


5 


Staffordshire, 


574 


112 


Pendlebur}-, 


62 


4 


Garway, 
Gadfield, 


134 


16 


Whitefield', 


41 


6 


408 


53 


Radcliffe Bridge, 18 


4 


Froom's Hill, 


1,008 


129 


Wales, 
Ireland, 


170 


13 


Newcastle-upon- 




35 


3 


Tyne, 


23 




Glasgow, Pais- 






Alston, 


26 


l\ 


ley, &c. 


368 


51 


Brampton, 


46 


li 


Edinburgh, 


203 


33 


Total, 5,814 members. 


675 officers. 


In 


all 



making 6,489. 

Those who had previously emigrated to Ame- 
rica are said not to have been included in this 
representation. 

Lest any should fall into the mistake of sup- 
posing the Mormon mission to England to have 
been purely of a religious character, we here 
quote some instructions from a letter of Joseph 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 197 

Smith, addressed " to the travelling high coun- 
cil and elders of the church of Jesus Christ, of 
Latter-day Saints in Great Britain." 

" Being requested to give my advice respect- 
ing the propriety of your returning in the spring, 
I will do so willingly. I have reflected upon 
the subject some time, and am of the opinion 
that it would be wisdom in you to make prepa- 
rations to leave the scene of your labours in 
the spring. Having carried the testimony to 
that land, and numbers having received it, con- 
sequently the leaven can now spread without 
your being obliged to stay ; another thing, there 
has been some whisperings of the spirit that 
there will be some agitations, some excitements 
and some trouble in the land in which you are 
now labouring. I would therefore say in the mean 
time. Be diligent, organize the churches, and 
let every one stand in his proper place, so that 
those who cannot come with you in the spring, 
may not be left as sheep without a shepherd. 

" I would likewise observe, that inasmuch as 
this place has been appointed for the gathering 
of the saints, it is necessary that it should be 
attended to in the order that the Lord intends 
it should : to this end I would say, that as there 
are great numbers of the saints in England who 
are extremely poor, and not accustomed to the 
farming business, who must have certain pre- 
parations made for them before they can sup- 
port themselves in this country, therefore, to 
prevent confusion and disappointment when 
they arrive here, let those men who are accus- 



198 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

tomed to making machinery, and those who 
can command a capital, though it be small, 
come here as soon as convenient, and put up 
machinery and make such other preparations 
as may be necessary, so that when the poor 
come on they may have employment to come 
to. This place has advantages for manufac- 
turing and commercial purposes, which but 
very few can boast of ; and by establishing cot- 
ton factories, founderies, potteries, &;c., &c., 
would be the means of bringing in wealth and 
raising it to a very important elevation." 

In compliance with the above directions, the 
twelve have now returned to Nauvoo to assist 
in building up Zion, with the exception of O. 
Hyde, the missionary to Palestine, and P. P. 
Pratt, who remains to edit the Millennial Star, 
and to superintend the general interests of 
Mormonism in England. This Mr. Pratt, who 
has distino^uished himself as the oTeatest author 
among the Mormons, appears to have gotten 
the start of Smith in his attentions to royalty, 
having already addressed a letter to her 
Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, Sovereign 
of Britain ; touching the signs of the times, and 
the political destiny of the world." 

From that document we learn that copies of 
the Book of Mormon have been presented to 
her majesty, and to his royal highness Prince 
Albert. Can the English any longer presume 
to reproach America as having given to the 
world no remarkable literary productions ? 
Should they persist in such unkindness here- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 199 

after, the truth will be evident that they them- 
selves are deficient, either in the taste or the 
acumen necessary to appreciate the superior 
excellence of the Book of Mormon, and of Mr. 
Pratt's poetry. An approved specimen of the 
latter we copy from the Latter-day Saints' 
hymns, as compiled and arranged by Emma 
Smith, Hymn number 236 was written as 
Mr. Pratt's Farewell to the City of New-York, 
in 1^38. 

Adieu to ike city, where long I have wandered, 

To tell them {whom 1] of judgments, and warn them 
to flee ; 

How often in sorrow their woes I have pondered, 
Perhaps in aMiction they'll think upon me. 

With a tear of compassion, in silence retiring, 
The la-st ray of hope for your safety expiring ; 

A feeling of pity this bosom inspiring — 
Sing 3iis lamentation and think upon me. 



When the Union is severed, and liberty's blessings 
Withheld from the sons of Columbia once free ; 

When bloodshed and war, and famine distress them, 
Remember the warning and think upon me. 

When this mighty city shall crumble to ruin, 
And sink as a millstone, the merchants undoings 

The ransomed the highway of Zion pursuing, 
Sing this lamentation, and think upon me." 

As the nature of our undertaking does not 
permit us to inquire extensively into the litera- 
ture of Mormon ism, we proceed to exhibit the 



200 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



instructions under which the English saints 
act in the enterprise of emigration. 

The following paragraphs are taken from 
" An Epistle of the Twelve to the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England, 
Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, 
greeting : 

"It will be necessary in the first place for 
men of capital to go on first and make large 
purchases of land, and erect mills, machinery, 
manufactories, &c., so that the poor who go from 
this country may find employment. Therefore 
it is not wisdom for the poor to flock to that 
place extensively, until the necessary prepara- 
tions are made. Neither is it wisdom for those 
who feel a spirit of benevolence to expend all 
their means in helping others to emigrate, and 
thus arrive in a new country empty handed. 
In all settlements there must be capital and 
labour united in order to flourish. The brethren 
will recollect that they are not going to enter 
upon cities already built up, but are going to 
' huild cities and inhabit them.' Building cities 
cannot be done without means and labour. 

***** u Sovereigns are more profitable 
than silver, or any other money, in emigrating 
to America ; and the brethren are also cautioned 
against the American money when they arrive 
in that country. Let them not venture to take 
paper money of that country until they become 
well informed in regard to the different banks. 

" It is much cheaper going by New-Orleans 
than by New- York But it will never do for 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 201 

emigrants to go by New-Orleans in the summer, 
on account of the heat and sickness of the 
climate. It is therefore advisable for the saints 
to emigrate in autumn, winter, or spring." 

What kind of motives have operated in pro- 
ducing the present rush of Latter-day Saints 
from England, as well as their original espousal 
of the cause, may be inferred from an appeal 
on the subject lately put forth at Nauvoo. 

" The happiness and enjoyments of the saints 
greatly depend upon the motives which predo- 
minate in their minds when they remove here. 
We have seen so many, who have been disap- 
pointed, and discouraged when they have visited 
this place, that we would have imagined they 
had never been instructed in the things per- 
taining to the kingdom of God, and thought, 
that instead of coming into a society of men 
and women, subject to all the frailties of mor- 
tality, they were about to enjoy the society of 
the spirits of just men made perfect, the holy 
angels, and that this place should be as pure as 
the third heavens. Here, they expected no 
jarring string, but uninterrupted harmony ; no 
discord and confusion, but all order and beauty; 
no sickness or death, but eternal youth beam- 
ing on every countenance. But when they 
found that this people were but flesh and blood, 
subject to like passions with themselves, many 
in poverty and distress, then their hearts have 
sunk within them, their confidence has depart- 
ed, their courage has forsook them, their reli- 
gion followed in the train, and they have re- 



202 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

fleeted on themselves for ever taking the first 
step toward the place ; and, like the children 
of Israel, at the time when the ten spies re- 
turned from the land of Canaan, they have been 
desirous to choose them a captain to lead them 
back. We cannot imagine how such wonder- 
ful ideas ever should take possession, or be en- 
tertained by any one conversant with the Bible. 

In conclusion, we would press upon our 
friends, who may feel disappointed in not find- 
ing the saints angels, to first cast the beam out 
of their own eye, and then they will see clearly 
to pluck the mote out of their brother's eye." 

Notwithstanding the difiiculties that must 
sooner or later grow out of the state of feeling 
indicated by the above language, yet as a result 
of the late general conference held at Nauvoo, 
more strenuous efiforts than ever are now being 
made " to push the saints together" from far 
and near. The twelve are made to act as a 
general agency for the gathering, and they ad- 
dress the Mormons " scattered abroad on the 
continent of America," as follows : — 

" Beloved Brethren, — It seemeth good to 
us to write unto you at this time concerning the 
great things of the kingdom of our God, and 
more especially as we have been called upon 
by the late general conference so to do ; that 
the work may not be hindered, but that all may 
understand their privilege and duty in this day 
of glorious events, so that by exercising them- 
selves therein, they may attain unto those bless- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 203 

ings which God has in store for his people in 
the last days. 

" We have abundant occasion, and we rejoice 
exceedingly at the privilege we have had of be- 
holding so many thousands of our brethren and 
sisters as were assembled at the late conference, 
and for the most perfect harmony and good feel- 
ing which prevailed throughout all their delibe- 
rations ; for the great amount of valuable in- 
structions by President Joseph Smith and others ; 
and for the disposition which we have seen 
manifested by all who were present, to carry 
into effect all those noble plans and principles 
which were derived from heaven, and have 
been handed down to earth, to carry forward 
the great and glorious work which is already 
commenced, and which must be consummated 
to secure the salvation of Israel. 

" In this city the church has succeeded in secu- 
ring several extensive plats of land, which have 
been laid out in city lots ; a part of which have 
been sold, apart has been distributed to the wi- 
dow and the orphan, and a part remains for sale. 
These lots are for the inheritance of the saints, 
a resting place for the church, a habitation for 
the God of Jacob ; for here he has commanded 
a house to be built unto his name, where he 
may manifest himself unto his people as in 
former times, when he caused the ark, the ta- 
bernacle, and the temple to be reared, and the 
cloud and the fire to rest down thereon ; and 
not that the temple be built only, but that it be 
completed quickly, and that no more general 



204 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

conference be held till it shall be held therein ; 
and that the Nauvoo House be finished for the 
accommodation of the brethren from afar, and 
the stranger who shall come up hither to in- 
quire after the work of the Lord and worship in 
his temple. 

"Scores of brethren in this city have offered 
to board one and two labourers each till the 
temple is completed; many have volunteered 
to labour continually, and the brethren generally 
are giving one-tenth part of their time, or one- 
tenth part of their income, according to circum- 
stances ; while those sisters, who can do no- 
thing more, are knitting socks and mittens, and 
preparing garments for the labourers, so that 
they may be made as comfortable as possible 
durinor the cominor winter. In view of these 
things, we would invite our brethren for many 
miles distant around us, to send in their teams 
for drawing stone, lumber, and materials for the 
buildings ; and at the same time load their wa- 
gons with all kinds of grain and meat, provi- 
sions and clothing, and hay and provender in 
abundance, that the labourer faint not, and the 
teams be made strong; also that journeymen 
stone cutters, &;c., come, bringing their tools 
with them, and enlist in the glorious enter- 
prise. 

" Brethren, the blessings of the kingdom are 
for you, for the body of Christ, for all the mem- 
bers, and God will help those who will help 
themselves, and bless those who will bless each 
other, and do as they would be done unto. The 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



205 



gold and the silver is the Lord's ; all the trea- 
sures of the earth, the flocks and the herds of 
the fields, and the cattle of the thousand hills, 
are his ; if he were hungry, would he crave thy 
food ? or thirsty, would he ask thy drink ? Nay, 
he would only ask that which was his own, he 
would feast on his own flocks, and quench his 
thirst at his own springs. This God is ^he God 
of the saints ; he is your God, and he has made 
you stewards of all that has been committed to 
you, and will require his own with usury ; and 
will you not be faithful in a little, that you may 
be made rulers over many cities ? Yes, you 
will, we know you will. 

" Is it possible that we labour in vain, and 
toil for naught, and that we shall be disappoint- 
ed at the last ? No, we know assuredly that 
the set time to favour Zion has come, and her 
sons and daughters shall rejoice in her glory. 
The time has come when the great Jehovah 
would have a resting place on earth, a habita- 
tion for his chosen, where his law shall be re- 
vealed, and his servants be endued from on high, 
to bring together the honest in heart from the 
four winds ; where the saints may enter the 
baptismal font for their dead relations, so that 
they may be judged according to men in the 
flesh, and live according to God in the spirit, 
and come forth in the celestial kingdom — a 
place over which the heavenly messengers may 
watch and trouble the waters as in days of old, 
so that when the sick are put therein, they shall 
be made whole — a place where all the ordi- 



206 MORMON ISM AND THE JlORMONS. 

nances shall be made manifest, and the saints 
shall unite in the songs of Zion, even praise, 
thanksgiving, and hallelujahs to God and the 
Lamb, that he has wrought out their deliver- 
ance, and bound Satan fast in chains. 

" What then shall we do? Let us all arise, 
and with one united and mighty exertion, by 
the strength of Israel's God, oppose the powers 
of darkness, and every being and principle that 
may rise up against us, and complete the work 
already commenced. Let us not, for a moment, 
lend an ear to evil and designing men who 
would subvert the truth, and blacken the cha- 
racter of the servant of the most high God, by 
publishing abroad that the prophet is enriching 
himself on the spoils of the brethren. 

" Brethren, in view of all these things, let 
us be up and doing. Let those in the eastern 
states use all diligence in communicating to us 
their ability to assist in the Hotchkiss payment, 
being assured that no exertion they can make 
will equal what has already been made for 
them, and the church generally ; and let all the 
saints come up to the places of gathering, and 
with their mites and their abundance, as God 
has given them in trust, help to build up the old 
waste places, which have been thrown down 
for many generations, knowing, that when they 
are completed, they will belong unto the people 
of the most high God, even the meek, the hon- 
est in heart ; he shall possess all things in the 
due time of the Lord. Be not covetous, but 
deal in righteousness, for what the saints shall 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 207 



not possess by purchase and in righteousness, 
they shall not possess ; for no unrighteous thing 
can enter into the kingdom : therefore, beloved 
brethren, deal justly, love mercy, walk humbly 
before God, and whatever your hands find to 
do, do it with your might, keeping all the com- 
mandments ; and then, whether in life or in 
death, all things will be yours, whether they be 
temples or lands, houses or vineyards, baptisms 
or enduements, revelations or healings, all things 
will be yours, for you will be Christ's, and Christ 
is God's. 

BRIGHAM YOUNG, JOHN TAYLOR, 

HEBER C. KIMBALL, WILFORD WOODRUFF, 

ORSON PRATT, GEO. A. SMITH, 

LYMAN WIGHT, WILLARD RICHARDS. 

Nauvoo, Oct, 12, 1841." 

A similar, and perhaps still more interesting 
document has been in like manner addressed to 
the Mormons beyond seas. We copy the more 
important parts. 

" An Epistle of the Twelve, to the Saints scattered 
abroad in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, 
the Isle of Man, and the Eastern Continent, 
greeting : 

" Beloved Brethren, — We rejoice and thank 
our heavenly Father daily in your behalf, that 
we hear of your faithfulness and diligence in 
the great work unto which you have been call- 
ed by the Holy Spirit, through the voice of the 
servants of the Most High, who have been and 
are now among you, for the purpose of instruct- 



208 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS* 

ing you in those principles which are calcu- 
lated to prepare the children of men for the 
renovation of the earth, and the restitution of 
all things spoken by the prophets. 

" In our travels in this land we have disco- 
vered a growing interest among the people 
generally, in the great work of the Lord. Pre- 
judice is giving place to intelligence ; darkness 
to light ; and multitudes are making the import- 
ant discovery that error is abroad in the earth, 
and that the signs of the times proclaim some 
mighty revolution among the nations. The cry 
is from all quarters, Send us elders to instruct 
us in the principles of your religion, that we 
may know why it is that you are had in deri- 
sion by the multitude, more than other profes- 
sors are. Teach us of your principles and 
your doctrines, and if we find them true we will 
embrace them. 

" The saints are growing in faith, and the 
intelligence of heaven is flowing into their un- 
derstanding, for the Spirit of the Lord is with 
them, and the Holy Ghost is instructing them 
in things to come. The spirit of union is in- 
creasing, and they are exerting themselves to 
come up to the gathering of the faithful, to 
build up the waste places, and establish the 
stakes of Zion. 

" Since our arrival in this place there has 
been one special and one general conference of 
the church, and the twelve have been called to 
tarry at home for a season, and stand in their 
lot, next to the first presidency, and assist in 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 209 

counselling the brethren, and in the settling of 
emigrants, &c. ; and the first great object before 
uSj and the saints generally, is to help forward 
the completion of the temple, and the Nauvoo 
house ; buildings which are now in progress, 
according to the revelations, and which must 
be completed to secure the salvation of the 
church in the last days, for God requires of his 
saints to build him a house, wherein his ser- 
vants may be instructed, and endued with power 
from on high, to prepare them to go forth among 
the nations, and proclaim the fulness of the 
gospel for the last time, and bind up the law, 
and seal up the testimony, leaving this genera- 
tion without excuse, and the earth prepared for 
the judgments which will follow. In this house 
all the ordinances will be made manifest, and 
many things will be shown forth, which have 
been hid from generation to generation. 

The set time to favour the stakes of Zion 
is at hand, and soon the kings and the queens, 
the princes and the nobles, the rich and the 
honourable of the earth, will come up hither to 
visit the temple of our God, and to inquire con- 
cerning his strange work ; and as kings are to 
become nursing fathers, and queens nursing 
mothers in the habitations of the righteous, it is 
right to render honour to whom honour is due ; 
and therefore expedient that such, as well as 
the saints, should have a comfortable house for 
boarding and lodging when they come hither, 
and it is according to the revelations that such 
a house should be built. 

14 



210 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONB. 

" The foundation of this hoBse, and filso of 
the temple, are laid,^ and the walls of the base- 
ment stories of each nearly completed ; and the 
finishing of the whole is depending on the ex- 
ertions of the saints. Every saint on earth is 
equally interested in these things, and all are 
under equal obligations to do all in their power 
to complete the buildings by their faith and by 
their prayers ; with their thousands and their 
mites, their gold and their silver, their copper 
and their zinc, their goods and their labours, 
until the top-stone is laid with shoutings, and 
the place is prepared to be filled with the glory 
of the Highest : and if there are those among 
you who have more than they need for the ga- 
thering, and for assisting the destitute, who 
desire to gather with them, they cannot make a 
more acceptable offering unto the Lord, than by 
appropriating toward the building of his temple. 

" He that believeth shall not make haste, but 
let all the saints who desire to keep the com- 
mandments of heaven, and work righteousness, 
come to the place of gathering as soon as cir- 
cumstances will permit. It is by united efforts 
that great things are accomplished ; and while 
the saints are scattered to the four winds, they 
cannot be united in action, if they are in spirit ; 
they cannot all build at one city, or lift at one 
stone of the great temple, though their hearts 
may all desire the same thing. We would not 
press the subject of the gathering upon you, for 
we know your hearts and your means ; and so 
far as means fail, let patience have its perfect 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 211 



work in your souls, for in due time you shall 
be delivered if you faint not. 

" When you arrive on our shores, and while 
sailing up our rivers, you need not be surprised 
if your ears are saluted by the false and filthy 
language of wicked and designing men, who 
are ever ready to speak evil of the things they 
understand not, and who would gladly blast the 
character of the prophet of the most high God, 
and all connected with him, with their foul 
anathemas, beyond any thing which you have 
ever thought of. We would not dishearten you, 
neither would we have you ignorant of the 
worst that awaits the righteous. 

" If the saints are not prepared to rejoice and 
be glad, when they hear the name of the pro- 
phet, and their own name cast out as evil, as 
gluttonous, wine-bibber, friend of publicans and 
sinners, Beelzebub, thief, robber, and murderer, 
they are not prepared for the gathering. The 
wheat and tares must grow together till the har- 
vest ; at the harvest the wheat is gathered toge- 
ther into the threshing-floor ; so with the saints. 
The stakes are the threshing-floor. Here they 
will be threshed with all sorts of difficulties, 
trials, afflictions, and every thing to mar their 
peace which they can imagine, and thousands 
which they cannot imagine ; but he that endures 
threshing till all the chaff, superstition, folly, 
and unbelief is pounded out of him, and does 
not suffer himself to be blown away as chaff by 
the foul tongue of slander, but endures faithful 
to the end, shall be saved. 



212 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMOXS. 



If you are prepared for all these things ; if 
you choose rather to suffer afllictious with the 
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin 
for a little moment, come up hither ; come direct 
to New-Orleans, and up the Mississippi river, 
for the expense is so much less, and the con- 
venience of water navigation is so much greater 
than it is by Montreal, New-York, or Philadel- 
phia, that it is wisdom for the saints to make 
New-Orleans their general established port, and 
be sure to start at such times that they may ar- 
rive here during the cold months, for the change 
from the cold climate of England to this place, 
in the hot season, is too great for the health of 
emigrants, till there is more faith in the church. 

" So far as the brethren have the means, they 
will do well to come prepared with a variety 
of mechanic tools, according to their profes- 
sions ; such as carpenters, joiners, cabinet- 
makers, hatters, coopers, masons, printers, 
binders, tanners, curriers, &c., and all sorts of 
manufactory and foundery im.plements, [com^e- 
ment for transportation.^ so that when they ar- 
rive, they may be prepared to establish them- 
selves in business, and give employment to 
spinners, weavers, moulders, smelters, and 
journeymen of every description ; for all sorts 
of woollens, cottons, hardware, &c., will find a 
ready market in new countries ; and a great 
field is now open to the capitalists in this vici- 
nity, even though the capital be small, and we 
would urge the importance of the immediate 
establishment of all kinds of manufactories 



MORMOXISM AND THE 3I0RM0NS. 



213 



among us, as well for the best interests of the 
individuals concerned, as for the church gene- 
rally. 

" Cities cannot be built without houses, 
houses cannot be built without materials, or 
occupied without inhabitants ; the inhabitants 
cannot exist without food and clothing ; food 
and clothing cannot be had without planting, 
sewing, and manufacturing, so that Zion and 
her stores cannot be built without means, with- 
out industry, without manufacturing establish- 
ments, unless the windows of heaven were 
opened, and cities and their appendages were 
rained down among us. But this we do not 
expect till the New-Jerusalem descends, and 
that will be some time hence ; therefore it is 
necessary, and according; to o;odliness and the 
plan of salv^ation in these last days, that the 
brethren should see to all these things, and 
clothe and adorn themselves with the labour of 
their OAvn hands, build houses and inhabit them, 
plant vineyards and eat the fruit thereof. 

" Brethren, pray for us, and the first presi- 
dency, the LEADER of the people, [a new title,] 
even Joseph, that his life and health may be 
precious in the sight of heaven, till he has fin- 
ished the work which he has commenced ; and" 
for all the elders of Israel, that every man may 
be faithful in his calling, the whole household 
of faith, and all subjects of prayer. 

" Brethren, farewell. May the blessings of 
heaven and earth be multiplied unto you, in 
spirit and in body, in basket and in store, in the 



214 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS.. 

field and in the shop, on the land and on the 
sea, in the house and by the way, and in all 
situations and circumstances, until you shall 
stand on Mount Zion, and enter the celestial city, 
[Nauvoo,] in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 
''Nov. 15, 1841." 

The above extracts will enable any reflect- 
ing mind to comprehend the present movements 
and policy of the Mormons. Every exertion is 
being made to concentrate their entire influence 
at Nauvoo. They appear to make the Jewish 
economy their model in several particulars. 
Thus they have their promised land, their 
priests, and their temple. The latter, it is said, 
will be in imitation of the temple of Solomon. 
Such a policy has, unquestionably, peculiar ad- 
vantages for them. 

1. It enables them to make a greater impres- 
sion in a given region, than the same number 
of persons could effect when scattered abroad. 

2. It qualifies the travelling quorum to make 
out a stronger case about the gathering, and the 
fulness of the times, when they go abroad to 
rally recruits. 

3. The probability that their converts will 
again go back to their proper reason is less, 
"when they become surrounded by the strength 
of their community, and where Mormonism, of 
course, is popular. 

4. When once the saints get under way for 
Nauvoo, they are fairly committed. A retreat 
is no easy matter. Yet some have hastened 
back to England while their money lasted. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 215 



5. When settled on the promised land, they 
are then fairly under the command of Lieute- 
nant General Joseph Smith, and can be made 
to build a temple to his honour, or a palace for 
his comfort, far easier than if they were scat- 
tered abroad. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Theology of Mormonism — Derivation — Affinity to 
Campbellism-— Improvements upon the old system — Mi- 
racles — Tongues — Conflicting medley of doctrines — Du- 
plicity of the advocates of Mormonism— Honesty of many 
of its followers — Real and distinguishing tenets — Eternity 
of matter — Materiality of God — Baptism for the dead — 
Interdiction of the same — Des^ecrations of the sabbath. 

In order to understand the theological cha- 
racter of Mormonism, the reader needs to recol- 
lect that Rigdon, and several of his associates, 
had be^n folio v/ers of Alexander Campbell. 
They had been thoroughly drilled as coadjutors 
to that self-styled reformer. Immersion for 
the remission of sins had been their favourite 
theme, nor did it cease to be so when they em- 
braced the cause of Mormonism. The Camp- 
bellite preachers had been famous for their rant 
and declamation against all creeds and sects. 
Yet they were going about to establish a new 
sect, while, to vindicate their creed, they 
published a new translation of the New Testa- 
ment. From the success, and the temporary 
popularity of Campbellism, the Mormons man- 



216 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS^. 

ifestly took their cue ; but they have distanced 
their forerunners. Not stopping with new 
translations, they published to the world new 
revelations. As though the inconsistency of 
establishing a new sect was not sufficient, they 
attempted to " found a new religion," still keep- 
ing up the clamour about the sectarianism of 
all but themselves. 

Yarious passages in the Book of Mormon 
show the writer to have been a Campbellite in 
his views. E. g., p. 451, " Edght thousand of 
the Lamanites were baptized vmto repentance." 
Page 514,. " Behold, ye shall go down and 
stand in the water, and in my name shall ye 
baptize them." And then ye shall immerse 
them in the water, and come forth again out of 
the water." Page 627, " I know that it is so- 
lemn mockery before God that ye should bap- 
tize little children." " Behold, baptism is unto 
repentance, to the fulfilling the commandment, 
unto the remission of sins." Other passages 
of the same purport might be introduced, but 
we proceed to show the affinity between Camp* 
bellism and Mormonism, by the following ex- 
tracts, which aredesignedto exhibit the triumphs 
of the latter system. 

" We learn, verbally, from Elder John E. 
Page, that within a few weeks past he has 
baptized nine in the lower part of this county, 
about eight miles south-west from Carthage, 
and twenty from this place. Among those who 
embraced the gospel in that place, is Mr. Sid- 
ney Knowlton and family, who have, for seve- 



M0R3I0XISM AND THE 3I0RM0NS. 217 



ral years, been zealous members of the Camp- 
bellite society, and are personally acquainted 
with the leaders of that sect, consequently have 
become perfectly acquainted with all the prin- 
ciples of that doctrine : they are of the opinion 
that if Messrs. Campbell, Scott, and others, had 
been attentive hearers to the lectures which had 
been delivered in their place, they would have 
become Mormons also." 

P. P. Pratt, writing to S. Rigdon, from Man- 
chester, England, Jan. 8th, 1841, says, — 

" I must now inform you of the fact, that we 
have reaped the first fruits of Campbellism in 
England. A few societies have been formed 
in England upon that principle for some years, 
but have made but little progress. One society 
of one hundred members exists about seventy 
miles from jManchester, at a place called Not- 
tingham. They discovered, about two years 
^ago, that they had been baptized for the remis- 
sion of sins without authority, and that they had 
not obtained remission, nor the gifts of the Spi- 
rit. From that time till now many of them have 
been se-eking and praying for the Lord to send 
officers, and raise up his own church. At 
length some of our writings fell into some of 
their hands, which soon brought two of their 
number to Manchester to inquire. They at- 
tended our meeting in the hall of Manchester, 
were well pleased, and called at our office next 
morning. After spending the day in inquiring, 
etc., one of them purchased three Voices of 
Warning, and returned home ; the other, (an 



218 M0RM0NIS3I AND THE MORMONS. 



intelligent gentleman,) stayed two or three days, 
inquired diligently, and at length was baptized 
and confirmed, and went home to tell the glad 
tidings ; this w^as a week or two ago. We ex- 
pect to hear from them soon, and go out and 
baptize and organize the church there. Tell 
friend Campbell to go ahead and prepare the 
way — the saints wdll follow him up and gather 
the fruits." 

Thus it appears that Campbellism has proved 
the harbinger to Morraonism both in America 
and in England. 

The two systems seem still to be identical in 
denying the necessity of spiritual regeneration, 
although the latter claims extraordinary spirit- 
ual gifts through baptism and the laying on of 
hands. The Mormons claiming to be much 
greater reformers than the Campbellites, by no 
means felt themselves bound to walk in the old 
paths ; on the contrary, they took the liberty to 
abandon such parts of the other system as did 
not correspond with their new designs, and to 
run into every additional extravagance that pro- 
mised to increase their numbers. Thus mira- 
cles and tongues were successively in vogue, 
so long as any thing was to be gained by them. 
In addition to the light already thrown upon 
these subjects, we subjoin the following state- 
ments of Mr. Bacheler, who, during the progress 
of a discussion upon the subject of Mormonism, 
investigated three cases of pretended miracles, 
in company with his opponent, a Mr. Adams. 

" The first was the case of an infant child, 



MORMON ISM AND THE MORMONS. 219 

which was said to have been rescued from the 
jaws of death by prayer and the imposition of 
hands, by a Mormon elder. We found that the 
child had, indeed, been very sick ; that a Mor- 
mon elder had prayed for it, and laid his hands 
upon it ; that the child gradually recovered ; 
and that the father of the child, who had pre- 
viously been an infidel, had now renounced in- 
fidelity, under the belief that the child had been 
miraculously healed. But, on further inquiry, 
we ascertained that a physician had also been 
attending the child ; that, in the height of its 
disease, he administered a powerful dose of 
medicine, which gave it a check ; that the child 
was actually convalescent when the Mormon 
elder was sent for ; and the physician positively 
declared that it was his medicine that preserved 
its life, and restored it to health. So much 
for the Mormon miracle. 

" The second was the case of a woman who 
was said to have been miraculously healed of 
the palsy. We found that she had left town. 
But we saw another woman who had resided 
in the same house with her. This latter woman 
informed us that the other one had really had 
the palsy ; that she permitted the Mormons to 
pray with her, and lay their hands upon her ; 
that she recovered, in some measure, though 
not entirely ; that a physician had likewise at- 
tended her ; and that the woman herself did 
not believe her partial recovery was attributable 
to miracle, but to medical treatment. 

" The third case was that of a woman, who, 



220 MOR3IOXIS3I AND THE 3I0RMOXS. 



it was stated, could not read a single letter be- 
fore joining the Mormons ; but that, on becom- 
ing a member of their church, she could all at 
once read like an orator — in the Bible, though 
not in any other book. W ell, we called on this 
woman. I selected a place in the Bible for her 
to read. Some w^ords she called right, and 
some wTong ; some she read without spelling, 
and some she had to spell. Strange inspira- 
tion, thought I. xVfter proving her sufficiently 
in this way, I turned to the latter part of the 
Bible, where was a description of Palestine, 
and which therefore was no part of the Bible, 
any more than if it had been printed in a 
book by itself. Here she commenced reading 
in the same manner as she had read in the 
Bible. 

' So, then,' said I, ' it seems you can read 
other reading besides the Bible.' I then asked 
her if she could read any before she joined the 
Mormons. She replied, that she could read 
her letters, and some small words. This was 
enough on that point ; for she could do very lit- 
tle more at the time I heard her. And this was 
the miraculous ]\Iormon reader — the woman 
who knew not a letter before joining the Mor- 
mons ; but who, by inspiration, could afterward 
read the Bible like an orator, but none at all in 
any other book ! This, however, was not all. 
Thi^ remarkable woman claimed to be a sub- 
ject of miraculous power in another respect. 
She said, that before she joined the Mormons, 
she was exceedingly lame ; but that, after join- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



221 



ing them, she was mstantaneously healed. On 
further inquiry, however, it appeared, by a state- 
ment of a sister of hers, that she had gradually 
recovered from her lameness, and that she was 
not entirely free from it even at the very time 
of our inquiry. 

" The result of this investigation I stated to 
the audience, in the presence of Mr. Adams, at 
our next meeting for discussion ; and he him- 
self admitted my statements to be true, as I can 
prove, by a cloud of witnesses, should it become 
necessary. And, moreover, the same cases can 
now be investigated by any who will take the 
pains to do it." 

Of late even pretended cases of miracles have 
become comparatively rare among the Mor- 
mons, probably owing to the increased facilities 
for their detection and exposure. 

In regard to tongues, the same gentleman ob- 
serves, — 

" Some fourteen or fifteen months ago, I was 
present at a Mormon meeting in Brooklyn, 
New-York. During the course of the exer- 
cises, a young woman rose, and commenced an 
exhortation. She had every appearance of sin- 
cerity, and became exceedingly animated. At 
length she began to utter certain sounds alto- 
gether unintelligible to the audience ; after 
which she interpreted what she had thus uttered. 
The interpretation contained a prediction, that 
within one year from that time there would be 
five hundred believers (Mormons) in Brooklyn. 
This was received by the Mormon church there 



222 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMOJS^S, 



assembled as inspiration— a new tongue — -a di- 
vine prediction — there being no dissent or dis- 
approval signified on the part of any Mormon 
present. Yet the year has passed av^^ay ; there 
are not five hundred Mormons in Brooklyn, or 
any thing like it ; the prediction has proved 
false ; and the Mormon church, it seems, knew 
not the difference between gibberish and an 
inspired tongue. Here, then, is a sample of 
their speaking with new tongues, and of their 
spiritual discernment." 

Such proceedings as the above, and others 
previously detailed, have been a standing theme 
of boast among the Mormons, as though they 
proved the restoration of the apostolic gift of 
tongues to the Mormon church. 

But it is not known that the least benefit has 
ever resulted to any who have spoken, or to any 
who have heard said tongues. Certain it is, 
that the interpretations given to such uncouth 
sounds have been less characterized by common 
sense than the ordinary parlance of the inter- 
preters. Lately, however, there has occurred 
an opportunity in which the gift, if actually pos- 
sessed, might have been used to great advan- 
tage. Mr. O. Hyde, one of the Mormon twelve, 
according to an official account, was specially 
called of God, in a dream, to visit London, Am- 
sterdam, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, for the 
accomplishment of certain great ends connected 
with the Latter-day Saints' enterprise. This 
man is said to be now on his way to Palestine, 
and his correspondence is thought, by the pub- 



MOHMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

lishers of the Times and Seasons, to be of tran- 
scendent interest. His last letter describes 
himself as calling in Rotterdam to propose some 
important questions to a Jewish rabbi. He, 
however, represents the interview to have been 
almost a failure, because the rabbi did not un- 
derstand English. 

The true difficulty was, that the Mormon 
could not speak Dutch, French, German, Latin, 
or some other language, which the rabbi did 
understand. 

Marvellous as the gibberish seems to unskill- 
ed ears, it answers no manner of purpose when 
an intelligible tongue is wanting. Of this the 
missionary to Palestine became practically con- 
vinced before getting half way across the con- 
tinent ; hence, we find him pausing in his pre- 
dicted career, and setting down at Ratisbon to 
learn the German language scientifically. 

" It was my intention to have gone directly 
down the Danube, but being detained, I con- 
ceived the idea of sitting down and learning the 
German language scientifically. I became ac- 
quainted with a lady here who speaks French 
and German to admiration, and she was very 
anxious to speak the English — she proposed 
giving me instruction in the German if I would 
instruct her in English. I accepted her propo- 
sal. I have been engaged eight days in this task. 
I have read one book through, and part of an- 
other, and translated and written considerable. 
I can speak and write the German considerable 
already, and the lady tells me that I make as- 



^4 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



tonishing progress. From past experience, I 
know that the keen edge of any work, trans- 
lated by a stranger in whose heart the spirit of 
the matter does not dwell, is lost — -the life and 
animation thereof die away into a cold monotony, 
and it becomes almost entirely another thing. 
This step is according to the best light I can 
get, and hope and trust that it is according to 
the mind of the Lord. The people will hardly 
believe but that I have spoken German before ; 
but I tell them nicht^ not. The German is spo- 
ken in Prussia, Bavaria, and in all the states of 
Germany, Austria, the south of Russia, and, in 
fine, more or less all over Europe. It appears 
to me, therefore, that some person of some 
little experience ought to know this language, so 
as to translate himself, without being depend- 
ant on strangers. If I am wrong in my move- 
ment, pray that the Spirit of the Lord may 
direct me aright. If I am right, pray that Hea- 
ven may speedily give me this language." 

Before Mr. Hyde fully masters the German, 
he will probably learn what it now seems very 
necessary for him to understand, viz., to make 
some allowances for flattery, when foreigners 
tell him about his astonishing progress in their 
language, and when they hesitate to credit his 
assertion of never having spoken it before. 

But so elated was he with the comprehen- 
sion of a few words, that he could not close his 
letter without boasting that he could have writ- 
ten most of it in German, yet he kindly fore- 
bore, lest it should not be understood at Nauvoo. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



225 



So much for his confidence in the interpreters 
of tongues at home ! 

" The curious instrument, consisting of two 
transparent stones, clear as crystal, set in the two 
rims of a ^ai^*," (perhaps it was a quizzing-glass,) 
could enable the prophet to translate the plates ; 
but alas for Mormonism, it is of no purpose when 
applied to any visible or living language. 

A few additional particulars, respecting Mor- 
mon belief and practice, we submit in the lan- 
guage of Mr. Corriil, who, as an apologist for 
their views and conduct, must be supposed to 
have at least stated them fairly. 

" The Mormons believe in, and constantly 
practise the laying on of hands, and praying for 
the healing of the sick ; sometimes they have 
been healed, sometimes partly healed, and some- 
times not benefited at all. If they are healed, 
they say it was because of their faith, as the 
Saviour promised, ' According to thy faith be 
it unto thee ; thy faith hath made thee whole,' 
&c.. Matt, viii, 13, and ix, 22. If partly heal- 
ed, it is still according to their faith, as it was 
said of some in old times, ' And they began to 
amend from tbat very hour but if they are not 
healed, or benefited at all, then it is for the 
want of faith, as when the lunatic was brought 
to the disciples, and ihey could not heal him, 
because of their unbelief. Matt, xvii, 20, and 
xiii, 58. But they think in this, as in many 
other cases, practice makes perfect, and it is 
necessary to an increase in faith, confidence, 
and the power of God. 

15 



226 



MORMOXISM AXD THE MORMONS. 



" The members of the churcli are required 
to bring their children, under eight years old, 
into meeting, and hare the elders lay hands on 
and bless them in the name of the Lord. This 
they say was according to the custom of the 
ancients, also of the Saviour, who commanded 
little children to be brought to him for that pur- 
pose. They also believe that a child begins to 
be accountable at eight years old, and not sootier ; 
and it is the duty of the parents to teach and 
instruct them up to that age, and then have them 
baptized into the church. 

" It was also a rule in the church to have one 
in each stake (most generally the oldest, if suit- 
able) appointed and ordained a patriarch, whose 
duty it v/as to be a sort of father to the church, 
and bless such children as had no natural father 
to bless them. 

" For a general rule, they excluded the use 
of ardent spirits, tobacco, tea, and coffee, in 
accordance with a revelation, called the words 
of wisdom, in which the abstinence from these 
things were recommended, but not commanded. 
Also, wasting of flesh, or taking of life of ani- 
mals unnecessarily, or for sport, was forbidden. 

" The sacrament was administered on every 
first day, (sabbath,) by a high priest, or an elder. 
Bread and wine are used as emblems ; but for 
wine they prefer the pure juice of the grape, 
when they can get it, and they administer in 
remembrance of the body and blood of the Sa- 
viour, as the Scripture commands. 

" They believe that matter is eternal, and that 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



227 



nothing of all God's works will ever be destroy- 
ed or lost ; but in the end all things will be 
restored to their proper place, and the sons of 
perdition alone will endure the lowest hell, or 
lake of fire and brimstone. 

" In matters of war, they hold it a duty to 
strive for peace, and not resent an injury, but 
bear patiently the first, second, and third time ; 
but they are not bound to receive or bear the 
fourth, but may resist to the uttermost, in their 
own defence, and in putting down their ene- 
mies. 

" They esteem the law of God, as given 
through their prophet, to be vastly superior to 
any other law ; and if they could have the pri- 
vilege, they would prefer to be governed by 
that alone ; and this, I believe, is the grand 
cause of jealousy and difficulty between them 
and their neighbours, v/ho prefer to be govern- 
ed by other laws." 

It should be added, that they consider the 
different Christian denominations of the present 
day as offspring of the great whore of Baby- 
lon, and believe that none can be saved who 
do not receive the Book of Mormon as divine. 
" Those who receive it in faith, and work right- 
eousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life ; 
but those who harden their hearts in unbelief, 
and reject it, it shall turn to their own condem- 
nation."* 

Surely this latter sentiment is a close imita- 
tion of Romish exclusiveness, while the govern- 
Vide book of Doctrines and Covenants, p. 78. 



228 M0RM0NIS3I AND THE MORMONS. 



ing power of the prophet, on a pigmy scale we 
allow, appears to be nearly as correct a sem- 
blance of the authority of his holiness, the 
pope. 

Thus we find Mormonism to have gathered 
together, in a shapeless mass, the disjointed 
fragments of atheism, Judaism, and Papacy. 
Out of such materials it professes to erect the 
very perfection of the spiritual edifice of Chris- 
tianity. It claims to usher in " the fulness of 
the gospel." It is to restore the apostolic 
church, and its followers are to be endowed 
with the gifts and graces of the primitive 
saints ! All this is based upon detected fraud, 
and sustained by reiterated falsehoods ! The 
bare statement of such self-repellant inconsist- 
encies beggars the very idea of comment. 

We are far from believing that the great mass 
of those who have received this system are dis- 
honest men ; nor do we imitate the exclusive- 
ness of said system, by asserting that no Mor- 
mon can be saved. We however do maintain, 
on the ground of what has been clearly shown, 
that Mormonism is adapted to bring together 
the very extremes of religious fanaticism, and 
of reckless villany. This single fact accounts 
for its temporary success, and again repels the 
idea of any comparison between it and Christi- 
anity, other than that of contrast. Respecting 
the means of its propagation, it ought to be 
known that deceit is systematically practised. 
Mormon preachers designedly keep out of view 
the distinguishing peculiarities of their system, 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 229 



till they have secured their converts on other 
^ and different grounds from those by which the 
truth or falsity of their system must be deter- 
mined. It is then often too late for such per- 
sons to draw back: they must go on to know 
the uttermost. Not so the apostles of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. They honestly preached " the 
cross," although " a stumbling block to the Jews, 
and foolishness to the Greeks." " Jesus of 
Nazareth," and him crucified, was the burden 
of their message, and their only message, 
wherever they went. 

Mormon teachers, however, aim to fall in 
with the current of popular opinion as much as 
they can. Thus they have a fair side to show 
to nearly every sect and class in the commu- 
nity ad captandu7n. Without attempting to enu- 
merate all, the following examples will illustrate 
the fact. They can preach immersion to Bap- 
tists ; confirmation to Protestant Episcopalians ; 
the second coming of Christ specially near at 
hand to Millerites, et id omne genus; slang against 
religion, under the name of sectarianism, to a 
numerous but nameless class ; baptism for the 
dead to either Universalists or Catholics, and 
materialism to infidels. In making a general 
harangue, or in addressing a promiscuous au- 
dience, they keep the Book of Mormon out of 
view as much as possible, and proceeding to 
argue their case entirely from the common 
translation of the Scriptures, endeavour to esta- 
blish themselves in a parallel with respectable 
Christian denominations. Such a course, to 



230 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

say the least, is chargeable with guilty equivo- 
cation : but hence the remark made by some 
who hav^e heard them, " We do not see much 
difference between them and others." If there 
be not much difference between them and pre- 
valent Christian denominations, then there is 
not much occasion for their preaching, and none 
for their institutions. If there be a difference, 
as honest men they are bound to explain and 
show cause for it. This should be their lead- 
ing object, instead of concealment and evasion. 
We avow, distinctly, that we do not, at present, 
discuss those points of doctrine which the Mor- 
mons claim to hold in common with any deno- 
mination of Christians. Such doctrines existed, 
and all the arguments in favour of them, before 
Mormonism was ever thought of. Our inqui- 
ries are after Mormonism per se. We have 
shown its origin : we now proceed to develop 
its peculiar tenets. In the first place we copy 
a definition given by one of its high priests. 
" Mormonism is to believe that Christ is the 
Son of God ; also a firm belief in the Scrip- 
tures ; then faith, repentance, and baptism, for 
the remission of sins ; the laying on of hands 
for the reception of the Holy Ghost ; having a 
church organized according to the New-Testa- 
ment pattern, and to live by every word that 
proceeds from the mouth of God : [through Jo- 
seph Smith !] all who reject this will be damned, 
if the Scriptures are true." 

This extract corroborates what we have said 
above. The definition purports to have been 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 231 

given in a public discussion ; and a more dis- 
honest specimen of evasion could scarcely have 
been contrived. One clause of it, nevertheless, 
may be easily tested, — " having a church or- 
ganized according to the New-Testament pat- 
tern." The same writer observes in another 
place : " It is folly to say that any sect worship 
God according to the true pattern, when their 
organization does not resemble the plan laid down 
in the sacred volume." Hence it will appear 
folly to say that Mormons worship God aright, 
since their organization is as far from even re- 
sembling the New-Testament pattern, as it is 
from any likeness to the constitution of the pri- 
mitive church. It will avail nothing to urge 
that they nominally have among them bishops, 
elders, deacons, and teachers, since, saying 
nothing of an entire want of likeness between 
Mormon bishops, (mere fiscal agents,) elders, 
&c., and those of the apostolic church, all 
these are subordinate to the following head 
officers and bodies corporate of the Mormon 
church, viz., seers^ revelators, translators, presi- 
dents, first presidency and high council of Nauvoo, 
quorum of the travelling high council, patriarchs, 
high priests, and quorum of the seventy. 

Perhaps we shall get more light from the 
following paragraph, in which the prophet states 
to Mr. Galland the first and fundamental prin- 
ciple of Mormonism, 

" Now, sir, you may think that it is a broad 
assertion that Mormonism is truth ; but, sir, the 
first and fundamental principle of our holy reli- 



232 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



gion is, that we believe that we have a right to 
embrace all, and every item of truth, without 
limitation, or without being circumscribed or 
prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions 
of men, or by the dominations of one another, 
when that truth is clearly demonstrated to our 
minds, and we have the highest degree of evi- 
dence of the same : we feel ourselves bound by 
the laws of God to observe and do strictly, with 
all our hearts, all things whatsoever is manifest 
unto us by the highest degree of testimony that 
God has committed to us, as written in the Old 
and New Testament, or anyiohere else, by any 
manifestation, whereof w^e know that it has 
come from God ; and has application to us, 
being adapted to our situation and circum- 
stances, age and generation of life ; and that 
we have a perfect and indefeasible right to em- 
brace all such commandments, and do them, 
knowing that God will not command any thing 
but what is peculiarly adapted, in itself, to ame- 
liorate the condition of every man under what- 
ever circumstances it may find him, it matters 
not what kingdom or country he may be in. 
And again, we believe that it is our privilege 
to reject all things, whatsoever is clearly mani- 
fested to us that they do not have a bearing 
upon us." 

This precious morceau, if it mean any thing 
at all, doubtless means to say, " the first and 
fundamental principle of MormonisnC* is to believe 
implicitly all the pretended revelations of Joseph 
Smith, as much as though they xoere written in the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 233 

Bible. We admit that this was rather an awk- 
ward thing to express, and hence we are dis- 
posed to overlook the unparelleled verbosity of 
the sentence. But, after all, it aims at the 
point around which the whole system revolves. 
Against those who have been excommunicated 
from the sect, and denounced with its vengeful 
anathemas, the leading accusation has generally 
been a renunciation of allegiance to the pro- 
phet. Witness the minutes of a conference 
chronicled on page 338 of the Times and Sea- 
sons. " The conference gave Elder Stephen 
Kittle's case a fair investigation, and found him 
not worthy a standing in the church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints." The charges 
were the following: — Asserting, 1. That Jo- 
seph Smith is not a prophet of the Lord. 
2. That self-defence is not righteous. 3. That 
the Book of Mormon is not true. 4. That Zion 
is not on this land. 5. Striving to persuade 
men to embrace error," i. e., we suppose, striv- 
ing to maintain the above positions. Now if 
this was " the head and front" of Stephen Kit- 
tie's offending, he could not have been a very 
bad man. The very assertion of such senti- 
ments as are alleged against him, prove him, 
so far at least, to have become rational and 
sober minded, and hence, forsooth, he was pro- 
nounced unworthy a standing among the Mor- 
mons. 

No person can fail to see that Mormonism 
makes use of Christianity merely as a cloak to 
hide its own imperfections. This is no new 



234 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



thing under the sun. Certain species of avow- 
ed infidels claim as fundamental to their system 
principles for which they are wholly indebted 
to Christianity. 

The Saviour warns us, Matt, xxiv, 24, that 
" there shall arise false Christs and false pro- 
phets, and shall show great signs and wonders ; 
insomuch that if it were possible they shall de- 
ceive the very elect." And no marvel ; for 
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of 
light. Therefore it is no great thing if his 
ministers also be transformed as the ministers 
of righteousness, whose end shall be according 
to their works." 2 Cor. xi, 14, 15. So Mor- 
monism, in order to make progress in a Chris- 
tian community, puts on the garb of righteous- 
ness, and many are really made to believe it 
the fulness of the gospel. How can the truths 
of Christianity be thus used to build up the de- 
vil's kingdom ? 

Stripping off its mantle of hypocrisy, Mor- 
monism stands forth in the following cardinal 
positions — a meagre and ghastly skeleton. 

1. Joseph Smith is a prophet of the Lord, 
and a priest after the order of Melchisedek. 

2. The Book of Mormon is true, i. e., in- 
spired. 

3. Zion is on this land, (Nauvoo, Illinois.) 

4. Matter is eternal. 

5. God is a material being. 

6. The saints are to be baptized for their dead 
relations, on peril of their own salvation. 

The burden of proof to all these positions 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 235 

falls, of course, upon their advocates. It has 
never been sustained, although Scripture is 
said to be quoted fluently in support of each. 

In regard to the first, its very mention, after 
what has been shown in these pages, must be 
considered as bordering on blasphemy. Yet 
among the Latter-day Saints' hymns is the fol- 
lowing, which they no doubt use in their wor- 
ship. 

HYMN 265. P. M. 

1 Now we'll sing with one accord, 
For a prophet of the Lord, 
Bringing forth his precious word, 

Cheers the saints as anciently. 

2 When the world in darkness lay, 
Lo, he sought the better way, 
And he heard the Saviour say, 

" Go and prune my vineyard, son !" 

3 And an angel surely, then, 
For a blessing unto men, 
Brought the priesthood back again, 

In its ancient purity. 

4 Even Joseph he inspires. 
Yea, his heart he truly fires, 
With the light that he desires, 

For the work of righteousness. 

5 And the Book of Mormon, true. 
With its covenants ever new, 
For the Gentile and the Jew, 

He translated sacredly. 

6 The commandments to the church, 
Which the saints will always search, 
(Where the joys of heaven perch,) 

Came through him from Jesus Christ. 



236 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



7 Precious are his years to come, 
When the righteous gather home, 
For the great millennium, 

Where he'll rest in blessedness. 

8 Prudent in this world of woes, 
He will TRIUMPH o'er his foes, 
While the realm of Zion grows, 

Purer for eternity. 

The second position, namely, that the Book 
of Mormon is true, will be tested in the suc- 
ceeding chapters. Respecting the third, that 
Zion is on this land, there is no need of con- 
troversy. Kirtland, Far West, and Nauvoo, 
have each, in turn, been the place. The two 
former are now abandoned. The various pre- 
dictions respecting them prove their authors to 
have been false prophets, and why should they 
be credited again ? 

In the assertion that " matter is eternal," and 
that God is a material being, we have infidelity 
unmasked — the doctrines of devils without a 
blush. 

The reader, accustomed to put confidence in 
the high religious pretensions of Mormonism, 
may startle when such doctrines are charged 
upon it : we therefore quote the language of 
one of its leading advocates. P. P. Pratt, in a 
" Treatise upon the Regeneration and the Eter- 
nal Duration of Matter," maintains the following 
as his leading proposition : " Matter and spirit 
are of equal duration ; both are self-exist- 
ent — they never began to exist, and they never 
can be annihilated." In attempting to prove 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 237 



this he says, " It is impossible for a mechanic 
to make any thing whatever without materials : 
so it is EQUALLY LAiPOssiBLE for GoD to bring 
forth matter from nonentity, or to originate ele- 
ments from nothing ; because this would con- 
tradict the law of truth, and destroy himself. 
We might as well say that God can add two 
and three together, and the product will be 
twelv^e ; or that we can subtract five from ten 
and leave eight, as to say that he can originate 
matter from nonentity.* * * * * 

" Here, then, is mathematical demonstration 
that it is not in the power of any being to ori- 
ginate matter. Hence we conclude that mat- 
ter as well as spirit is eternal, uncreated, self- 
existing." 

In advocating the kindred sentiment, that 
God is a material being, the Mormons resort 
to those figurative expressions of Scripture by 
which the ways of God are revealed to finite 
comprehension. By supposing these to be 
literal descriptions of the body and parts of Je- 
hovah, they consider their case established. 

In their conversations and harangues on this 
subject, they manifest a peculiar animosity to 
the doctrines imbodied in the Ritual of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. They seem 
ignorant that the articles which they most se- 
verely assail, free from the controversies that 
have prevailed on minor points, have been ac- 
knowledged from the earliest ages to express 
the standard faith of the Christian church. 
Thus, in their eager opposition to Methodism, 



238 MORMONiSM AN!) THE MORMOlfS. 

they stab at the very vitals of Christianity itself. 
The most vulgar atheist would scarcely be 
guilty of a more profane attack upon the car- 
dinal principles of all true religion, than is 
contained in the following fragment from the 
pen of Pratt, which has been more than once 
published by the Mormons : — ' 

" Here, then, is the Methodist God without 
either eyes, ears, or mouth ! ! ! and yet man 
was created after the image of God ; but this 
could not apply to the Methodists' God, for he 
has no image or likeness ! The Methodist God 
can neither be Jehovah nor Jesus Christ ; for 
Jehovah showed his face to Moses and to the 
seventy elders of Israel, and his feet too ; he 
also wrote with his own finger on the tablets of 
stone. Isaiah informs us, that his arm is not 
shortened ; that his ear is not dull of hearing, 
&c., and that he will proceed to make bare his 
arm in the eyes of all the nations ; and Eze- 
kiel says, ' His fury shall come up in his face 
and Zech. xiv, says, ' Wis feet shall stand in that 
day upon the Mount of Olives,' and they which 
behold shall say, ' What are these wounds in 
thy hands and in \h.y feet,^ &c. Consequently, 
Methodism is a system of idolatry." 

The same writer says, " We worship a 
God who has both body and parts, who has 
eyes, mouth, and ears, and who speaks whea he 
pleases, and to whom he pleases." " Our God 
is just as good at mechanical inventions, archi- 
tecture, tailoring, smithing, stone-cutting, &c., 
&c., (fee, as at any other business." 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 239 

What an illustration of the apostle's words, 
Rom. i, 22, 23, " Professing themselves to be 
wise, they became fools, and changed the glory 
of the incorruptible God into an image made 
like to corruptible man !" 

Like the ancient anthropomorphites, they 
draw their principal argument on this subject 
from Gen. i, 27, " So God created man in his 
own image, in the image of God created he 
him, male and female created he them." Sup- 
posing this to refer to the bodily form, rather 
than to the moral likeness in which man was 
created, they unhesitatingly infer that in their 
own persons they have a copy of the body and 
parts of the Deity ! Other arguments in sup- 
port of this heresy are drawn from those pas- 
sages of the Scripture which represent God as 
having manifested himself to his creatures in 
human form. Thus when Jacob wrestled with 
the angel, and was overwhelmed with the mani- 
festation of divine power he witnessed, he ex- 
claimed in one of the boldest metaphors of the 
Hebrew tongue, " I have seen God face to face." 

Again, Exod. xxxiii, 11, it is said, ^' The 
Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man 
speaketh unto his friend," i. e., familiarly. 
Such expressions are clearly explained by a 
reference to Numbers xiv, 14, " For they have 
heard that thou. Lord, art among this people ; 
that thou, Lord, art seen face to face, and that 
thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou 
goest before them by day time in a pillar of 
cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night." 



240 M0R3I0XISM AND THE 3I0RM0NS. 

Here we find the phrase " seeing God face 
to face" limited in its application to those 
manifestations of the Deity which he conde- 
scended to make of himself through the pillar 
of cloud and of fire, at the tabernacle and by 
the presence of his Spirit. 

From first to last, Moses appears to have had 
no idea that God was confined to shape or 
form, hence it will be observed in the passage 
so often quoted by the Mormons to sustain their 
views, Exod. xxxiii, 17-23, that Moses only 
asks, " I beseech thee, show me thy glory." 
God answers that even this, in its fulness, could 
not be seen by mortals. Nevertheless, he would 
cause his goodness to pass before his servant, 
who, placed in a cleft of the rock and covered 
with the divine hand, might behold some faint 
and sUiFerable manifestation of the glory that 
passed by. Some commentators have suppos- 
ed, that in this scene a vision of the person of 
Christ was discovered to Moses, as an assur- 
ance of God's design to save his people from 
their sins. 

This subject is illustrated by various pas- 
sages in the Nev/ Testament. John i, 18, No 
man hath seen God at any time." 1 Cor. vi, 
16, ''Dv\^elling in the light which no man can 
apjnoach unto : whom no man hath seen, nor 
can see." John vi, 46, " Not that any man 
hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, 
[Christ,] he hath seen the Father." 1 Tim. iii, 
16, " God was manifest in the flesh, justified in 
the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 241 



Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up 
into glory." In the last-quoted passages we 
learn that while in the person of Christ God 
was clearly manifest to mortals, yet he was 
properly seen only of angels, while even angels 
may never have beheld the full glories of the 
invisible, but only Christ. 

From such soul-inspiring views of Deity 
what a descent even to contemplate the Mor- 
mon doctrine ! " We worship a God who hath 
both body and parts, who has eyes, mouth, 
and ears." Revolting as is the bare contem- 
plation of such language and sentiments, we 
must go further, and point out a few legitimate 
consequences of the doctrine. 

1. It contradicts the Bible, which says, " God 
is a spirit. A spirit hath not flesh and bones." 

2. Materiality destroys the omnipresence of 
any being ; for according to the laws of nature, 
no two bodies can occupy the same space at 
the same time, nor can one and the same body 
be in different places at the same moment. 
Hence when the God of the Mormons is at 
Nauvoo he is absent from all the world besides. 
Thus those of them who have not gone up 
thither in the gathering, must pray to a God 

afar off." Opposed to all such degrading 
views of himself, the Christian's God exclaims, 

Do not I fill heaven and earth ?" The Psalm- 
ist, deeply impressed w^ith a sense of God's 
ubiquity, asks, " Whither shall I go Trom thy 
Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy pre- 
sence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art 
16 



242 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 

there. If I take the wings of the morning and 
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; even 
there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right 
hand shall hold me.*' 

3. The omnipresence of God being disprov- 
ed ; no one can substantiate either his omnis- 
cience or his omnipotence : for how can his eyes 
behold what he is not present to see or his hands 
perform the vv^onders of heaven while his pre- 
sence is on earth ? 

4. Combining the Mormon doctrines of the 
materiality of God and the " regeneration of 
matter," what have we but the necessity of the 
Almighty being born again in order to enter his 
own kingdom! If it be said that this being, 
never having sinned, requires no new birth, w^e 
reply that the earth never sinned, and yet Mor- 
mons and some others suppose it to need re- 
generation in consequence of Adam's fall. 

5. What can Mormonism justly claim but to 
be considered as a system of the grossest idola- 
try 1 Even the heathen claim to worship invisi- 
ble spirits through their images, but the Mor- 
mons believe that God himself is an image of 
which corruptible man is a likeness. 

No doubt the great mass of the common peo- 
ple would be astonished at this view of the 
consequences of the theory taught them. They 
have from childhood been trained up in the ge- 
neral ideas of a Christian community respect- 
ing the King eternal, immortal, and invisible. 
Of these they cannot rid themselves at once, 
even thoirgh they imbibe principles directly 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMSNS. 243 



subversive of them. But let them or any- 
thinking person decide if the above conse- 
quences and others equally fatal to truth, do 
not legitimately follow the Mormon doctrine 
respecting God. 

Baptism for the dead. — This is something of 
recent origin among the Mormons. It may be 
defined as a vicarious immersion or " baptism 
by proxy," administered to living persons in 
behalf of their relations who have died unre- 
generate or unbaptized. 

It claims for its foundation the expression of 
St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv, 30, " Else what shall they 
do which are baptized for the dead ?" The 
reader needs not to be told that no other pas- 
sage in the Bible gives even an apparent coun- 
tenance to such a practice. This passage, 
moreover, is relieved from most of its difficulties, 
and certainly from such a perversion, by the in- 
terpretation of Chrysostom, who as early as the 
fourth century had to contend with a similar 
heresy, then advocated ^by the Marcionites. 
That venerable father interprets the passage 
by supplying an ellipsis very obvious from the 
tenor of the context. The apostle was dis- 
coursing upon the resurrection of the dead — 
that distinguishing doctrine of Christianity. 
The hope of a part in the first resurrection 
was the powerful inducement by which men 
were urged to become Christians ; entering the 
church through the initiatory rite of baptism. 
Paul, urging this, and at the same time contend- 
ing against the infidel objections that " Christ 



244 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



rose not, neither will the dead arise," exclaimSj 
appealing to the power of the Almighty, as the 
assurance of his hope, " Else what shall they 
do, which are baptized for [the resurrection of] 
the dead, if the dead rise not at all ? Why are 
they then baptized for [or in hope of the resur- 
rection of] the dead ? And why stand we in 
jeopardy every hour 

The necessity of thus supplying this ellipsis 
is still more obvious from the Greek, in which, 
by the addition of a single word, the sense is 
made to harmonize with the scope of the whole 
chapter. 

'Ercel, TL TTOiTioovoLV bi Panrc^oijievoc vnep 
[rr/g dvaardcf£G)g] tCjv vefcpcjv; el 'oX^yg vsfcpol 
ovfc kyetpovrai, ri fcal pairrt^ovrac vnep [rrig 
dvaordasojg] tcjv vsfcpcov ; 

Leaving this interpretation to stand upon its 
proper merits, we proceed to notice the contri- 
vance and developments of the Mormon doc- 
trine. 

The first notice of this subject, as introduced 
at Nauvoo, is found in the minutes of a confer- 
ence held Oct. 3, 1840, in which it is stated, 
" President Joseph Smith, Jr., then arose and 
delivered a discourse on the subject of baptism 
for the dead, which v.- as listened to with con- 
siderable interest by the vast multitude assem- 
bled." At another conference held April, 
1 841 , ^' President Rigdon delivered a discourse 
on the subject of baptism for the dead, which 
was set forth in a manner new and interesting, 
and with an eloquence peculiar to the speaker, 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 245 



which was listened to with intense interest by 
the assembly." 

" Gen. Bennett made some very appropriate 
observations in continuation of the subject. 

" President Smith likewise followed on the 
same subject, and threw considerable light on 
the doctrine which had been investigated." 

Soon after this a correspondent of the Times 
and Seasons, in elucidating the doctrine, says, 
The gospel has been, and we infer, is still, 
preached to the dead ; that is, to disembodied 
spirits." " The departed spirit is in a proba- 
tionary state, capable of being affected by the 
proclamation of the gospel." Christ " offers 
pardon, peace, holiness, and eternal life to the 
quick and the dead : the living, on condition of 
faith and baptism for remission of sins ; the 
departed, on the same condition of faith in per- 
son and baptism by a living kinsman in his be- 
half. It may be asked. Will this baptism by 
proxy necessarily save the dead ? We answer. 
No : neither will the same necessarily save the 
living. But this, with the other requisites, v/ill 
save both the living and the dead, and God will 
raise them up to glorify him together." 

Queries, — 1. How 'can the departed believe 
in person, when their bodies lie mouldering 
back to dust ? 

2. How can the living kinsman know, whe- 
ther the departed spirit believes the gospel or 
rejects it ? 

3. What degree of relationship is necessary 
to make the proxy valid ? 



246 



mor:,ioxis3i axd the mormons. 



4. Suppose the survivor hopes that the wick- 
ed spirit has believed the gospel, and is bap- 
tized in its behalf; when, in fact, the unjust is 
unjust still : of what advantage is the rite to 
either party ? If none, who can estimate the 
wickedness of thus mocking God and reli- 
gion ? 

In May, 1841, according to the minutes of a 
conference held at Kirtland, after considerable 
preaching, "about twenty-five baptisms took 
place, most of which were for the dead." Other 
instances of this practice might be cited, but 
how extensively it prevails, we are not inform- 
ed. It has evidently become a subject of no 
little agitation among the saints, since at every 
successive conference, new light is demanded 
from the revelators to clear up the dark points 
of this newly invented heresy. Thus at the 
general conference held at Nauvoo, in October 
last, — 

" President Joseph Smith, by request of some 
of the twelve, gave instructions on the doctrine. 

" The speaker presented ' baptism for the 
dead,' as the only way that men can appear as 
saviours on Mount Zion. 

There is a way to release the spirit of the 
dead ; that is, by the power and authority of the 
priesthood — by binding and loosing on earth. 

" This doctrine appears glorious, inasmuch 
as it exhibits the greatness of divine compas- 
sion and benevolence in the extent of the plan 
of human salvation. This glorious truth is well 
calculated to enlarge the understanding, and to 



MORMOXISM AND THE xMORMONS. 



247 



sustain the soul under troubles, difficulties, and 
distresses. 

" For illustration the speaker presented, by 
supposition, the case of two men, brothers, 
equally intelligent, learned, virtuous, and lovely, 
walking in uprightness and all good conscience, 
so far as they had been able to discern duty 
from the muddy stream of tradition, or from 
the blotted page of the book of nature. One 
dies, and is buried, having never heard the gos- 
pel of reconciliation : to the other the message 
of salvation is sent, he hears and embraces it, 
and is made the heir of eternal life. Shall 
the one become a partaker of glory, and the 
other be consigned to hopeless perdition ? Is 
there no chance for his escape ? Sectarianism 
answers, ' None ! none ! none !' Such an idea 
is worse than atheism. The truth shall break 
down and dash in pieces all such bigoted Pha- 
risaism ; the sects shall be sifted, the honest in 
heart brought out, and their priests left in the 
midst of their corruption. The speaker then 
answered the objections urged against the Lat- 
ter-day Saints, for not admitting the validity of 
sectarian baptism, and for withholding fellow- 
ship from sectarian churches. It was like put- 
ting new wine into old bottles, and putting old 
wine into new bottles. What! new revelations 
in the old churches! New revelations knock 
out the bottom of their bottomless pit. New 
wine into old bottles ! the bottles burst and the 
wine runs out. What ! Sadducees in the new 
church ! Old wine in new leathern bottles will 



248 



MORMON ISM AND THE MORMON? 



leak through the pores and escape: so the Sad- 
ducee saints mock at authority, kick out of the 
traces, and run to the mountains of perdition, 
leavino; the lons" echo of their brayins: behind 
them. 

••' This doctrine, he said, presented in a clear 
light the wisdom and mercy of God, in pre- 
paring an ordinance for the salvation of the 
dead, being baptized by proxy, their names re- 
corded in heaven, and they judgred according" 
to the deeds done in the body. This doctrine 
was the burden of the Scriptures. Those samts 
who -n^.gJtct It, in behalf of their deceased rela- 
tives, do It at the PERIL or their ov/n salva- 
tion I 

The speaker then announced, • There shall 
be no more baptisms for the dead, until the or- 
dinance can be attended to in the font of the 
Lord's house : and the church shall not hold 
another general conference until they can meet 
in said house. For thus saitn thi Lord I" 

This doctrine is summed up in the following 
poetry, which will probably be entitled to a 
place in the next edition of the Latter-day 
Saints' Hymns :** — 

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD. 
By J. H. Johisc-n. 
Else what shall they do v,-ho are b?. prized for the dead 
if the dead rise not at ad ■ \y\\y :hen are they bap::zed 
for the dead •'' 

The glorious gospel lighr has shone 

In this the latter day, 
With such intelligence that none 
From truth need turn away. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 249 



For 'mong things which have been sealed, 

And from the world kept hid ; 
The Lord has to his saints revealed, 

As anciently he did. 

And through the priesthood now restored, 

Has e'en prepared the way, 
Through which the dead may hear his word, 

And all its truths obey. 

As Christ to spirits went to preach. 

Who were in prison laid ; 
So many saints have gone to teach 

The gospel to the dead. 

And we for them can be baptized ; 

Yes, for our friends most dear ! 
That they can with the just be raised, 

When Gabriel's trump they hear. 

That they may come with Christ again, 

When he to earth descends ; 
A thousand years with him to reign, 

And with their earthly friends. 

Now, ! ye saints, rejoice to-day, 

That you can saviours be. 
For all your dead who will obey 

The gospel and be free. 

Then let us rise without restraint, 

And act for those we love ; 
For they are giving their consent, 

And wait for us to move. 

Now if the reader will refer back to the re- 
velation copied on pages 167-181, he will see 
that the great argument made use of in urging 
forward the construction of the temple, was 
that there may be prepared a baptismal font, 
which the saints may enter in behalf of their 
dead relations. It is then threatened, that un- 



250 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

less the Mormons build such a house in the 
course of a sufficient time, they shall be rejected 
as a church, with their dead : yet it expressly 
says, " during this time your baptisms shall be 
acceptable." 

It would appear that the work of building did 
not go on fast enough to suit Smith, notwith- 
standing he had declared to his elders, that 
" labour on the temple would be as acceptable 
to the Lord as preaching the gospel." 

So in the October conference, having de- 
claimed at length upon baptism for the dead, 
and instructed the saints not to neglect it, on 
peril of their own salvation, 'Hhe speaker an- 
nounced, ' There shall be no more baptisms for 
the dead, until the ordinance can be attended 
to in the font of the Lord's house ; and the 
church shall not hold another general confer- 
ence until they can meet in said house. For 
thus saith the Lord P " 

No person would be so inconsistent as to 
suppose that such a wondrous edifice as a Mor- 
mon temple could be built in less time than 
several years ; especially considering the cir- 
cumstances of the builders. But notwithstand- 
ing " sufficient time" had been promised, and 
that in print ; yet in his eagerness to push on 
the work, this soi disant revelator barely suffers 
nine months to elapse from the date of the pre- 
vious revelation, before he brings out another 
positively contradicting it. Verily that man's 
conscience must be " seared with a hot iron" 
who can thus presume " to make God a liar." 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 251 

All this merchandise of souls is for the sake 
of money, to build a monument to Mormon am- 
bition ! 

Here apparently is an attempted parallel to the 
course of Pope Leo X., who for the sake of mo- 
ney to finish the church of St. Peter, at Rome, 
promoted to an unusual extent the sale of in- 
dulgences, by which the souls of dead relations 
might be delivered from purgatory. The per- 
fidious avarice of Tetzel, the commissioner of 
these indulgences in Germany, aroused the 
energies of Luther, and hastened the Reforma- 
tion. May the course pursued by the would-be 
pope of Nauvoo be productive of an equally hap- 
py effect among the Mormons ! 

We will close this exposition of the religious 
(irreligious) peculiarities of Mormonism, by 
showing that a public violation of the sabbath 
is countenanced among them. 

Extract of " Minutes of the General Confer- 
ence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints, held in Nauvoo, Oct. 3d, 1840 : 

^'Sunday morning. — Conference met pursuant 
to adjournment, and was opened by prayer by 
Elder Babbit. 

" The clerk was then called upon to read the 
report of the presidency, in relation to the city 
plot ; after which the president made some ob- 
servations on the situation of the debts on the 
city plot, and advised that a committee be ap- 
pointed to raise funds to liquidate the same. 

" On motion, resolved, that William Marks 
and Hyrum Smith compose said committee. 



252 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



On motion, resolved, that a committee be 
appointed to draft a bill for the incorporating of 
the town of Nauvoo, and other purposes. 

" Resolved, that Joseph Smith, Jr., Dr. J. C. 
Bennett, and R. B. Thompson, compose said 
committee. 

" Resolved, that Dr. J. C. Bennett be ap- 
pointed delegate to Springfield, to urge the pas- 
sage of the said bill through the legislature." 

" City of Nauvoo, May 6, 1841. 
" To the Editors of the Times and Seasons. 

" Gentlemen, — I wish, through the medium 
of your paper, to make known, that on Sunday 
last I had the honour of receiving a visit from 
the Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, justice of the 
supreme court, and judge of the fifth judi- 
cial circuit of the state of Illinois, and Cyrus 
Walker, Esq., of Macomb, who expressed great 
pleasure in visiting our city, and were aston- 
ished at the improvements which were made. 
They were officially introduced to the congre- 
gation who had assembled on the meeting 
ground, by the mayor ; and they severally ad- 
dressed the assembly. 

" I am, very respectfully, yours, &c., 

" Joseph Smith." 

It is no new thing to have evidence, that 
many political men in our country will not 
hesitate to profane the Lord's day, when they 
imagine that either their interests or their plea- 
sures may be promoted by its profanation. But 
that any body of professedly religious people 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 253 

would countenance such proceedings, must 
cause astonishment to any, not aware that there 
is in existence a body of professedly religious 
teachers, who in a conference capacity do not 
scruple to transact secular business on the sab- 
bath ! That the Mormons were thus called out 
to listen to the harangues of political dema- 
gogues on the sabbath day, their prophet pub- 
licly boasts, glorying in the common shame ! 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Relation of Mormonism to Christianity — Glance at the 
Book of Mormon — New and improved edition — Author 
and proprietor becomes translator — Chronology — A brass 
ball — Miraculous navigation — Narrative— Antecedent voy- 
age — Bloody wars — Antiquities of Central America in 
proof of Mormonism — Colour of the Indians accounted 
for. 

The whole system of Mormonism owes its 
origin, and the church of Latter-day Saints its 
existence, to the Book of Mormon and the fable 
of a Golden Bible. Why do the Mormons be- 
come ashamed of this ? Why desire to con- 
struct their system upon any other than its pro- 
per foundation ? This very circumstance is 
suspicious, betraying as it does a consciousness 
that truth is lacking for its support. 

We are now prepared to ask men or angels, 
to show a baser perversion of Scripture, or of 
Christian principles, than that by which they 



254 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



are brought to the aid of Mormonism — a sys- 
tem of infidelity — a scheme of deception. 

But we are told that the Book of Mormon 
proves the truth of the Bible. That we deny. 
No such proof is wanting. The truth of the 
Bible has been irrefragibly demonstrated for 
centuries. Yet we allow that additional evi- 
dences of the divine inspiration of that book are 
continually accumulating. Nor is it the least, 
though it be the last instance of this kind which 
has occurred in connection with Mormonism, 
and is found in the terms in which the charac- 
ter of false prophets was delineated, Jeremiah 
xxiii, 22 ; and also in the portraiture of those 
who in the latter times should depart from the 
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. Vid. 1 Tim. 
iv, 1; 1 John ii, 18. 

There is nothing in the origin of the Book 
of Mormon, or in the agency by which it was 
brought to light, calculated to excite high ex- 
pectation on the part of the intelligent reader. 
Nevertheless, we will now inquire into its in- 
trinsic merits. Surely this is no ordinary task : 
the examination of a book, purporting not only 
to have been inspired, but also "hid up" in a mi- 
raculous manner, and at length revealed by the 
power of God. 

We open the volume, we glance the eye over 
its pages, and what do we find ? The plain 
and convincing narrative of the sacred histori- 
ans ? The sublime and soul-inspiring diction 
of the Psalmist and the prophets ? The profound 
doctrines and moving appeals of the apostles ? 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 255 



Passages we indeed find that are worthy of an 
inspired pen. But they have been introduced 
by 'the hand of the miserable plagiarist, who 
not only had the audacity to plunder them from 
the sacred and living oracles for his own vile 
purposes, but also the unaccountable stupidity 
to place them without acknowledgment in con- 
nection, and therefore in contrast, with the piti- 
ful productions of his awn pen. All save these 
sacrilegious plagiarisms bears the indelible 
stamp of puerility, as well as of an unculti- 
vated taste and a wicked heart. Not even the 
most wretched novel of modern times betrays 
so perfect a destitution of inventive power in its 
writer ; so complete an inability to perceive, 
and to conceal, its own inconsistencies. In- 
deed, if we can attribute any prevailing ob- 
ject to the writer of the Book of Mormon, it 
must have been that of heaping together such 
a chaos of disconnected absurdities as would 
defy analysis and refutation. But even in 
this he has made a failure, as will presently 
appear. 

It is matter of gratification that we have be- 
fore us a " carefully revised edition" of this 
work, one which bears evidence, of considera- 
ble improvement upon the first. Although we 
are still shocked with outrages upon grammar, 
and barbarisms in style, that glare forth on al- 
most every page, yet we congratulate ourselves 
that we are delivered from reviewing a less per- 
fect copy. To show that this is not exaggera- 
tion, we will merely hint at the improvements 



256 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



manifest in the title-page. Whereas the first 
and second editions gave the preface to the 
book jumbled up between its title and the name 
of its publishers, the third arranges the preface 
on a separate page secundem artem. Whereas 
before the preface said, "And now if there be 
fault, it he the mistake of men it now reads as 
amended, " if there are faults, they are the mis- 
take^" of men." Another striking alteration has 
been made on the title-page, W'hich we should 
not hesitate to pronounce an improvement, did 
w^e not prefer to witness an abandonment of 
good taste rather than a violation of truth. The 
alteration is this ; instead of " Joseph Smith, Jr., 
author and proprietor," as in the first edition, 
we now have, " translated by Joseph Smith, Jr." 
The following is the authorized and current 
eulogium, which the Mormons use respecting 
this book : — 

" It opens the events of ancient America. It 
pours a flood of light upon the world on sub- 
jects before concealed — upon the history of a 
nation whose remnants have long since dwind- 
led into insignificance in midnight darkness, 
and whose former greatness was lost in obli- 
vion, or only known by the remains of cities, 
palaces, temples, aqueducts, monuments, tow- 
ers, fortifications, unintelligible inscriptions, 
sepulchres, and bones. The slumber of ages 
has now been broken. The dark curtain of the 
past has been rolled up. The veil of obscurity 
has been removed, as regards the world called 
new. The ancient events of America now 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 257 



Stand revealed in the broad light of history, as 
far back, at least, as the first peopling of the 
continent after the flood. This discovery will 
yet be hailed among all nations as among the 
most glorious events of the latter times, and as 
one of the principal means of overwhelming the 
earth with knowledge." 

P. P. Pratt says, on the issue of the English 
edition of the Book of Mormon, it " is in re- 
ality of more value to them [the public] than all 
the gold and silver of England." " I repeat the 
declaration, strange as it may seem, that a 
knowledge of things contained in this record is 
of more value to every one than the gold and 
silver of Europe." 

Perhaps a reperusal of the summary of con- 
tents, which we gave on a preceding page, will 
be of service to the reader, before proceeding 
with us to inquire what light is thrown by 
this work upon the first settlement of the west- 
ern world, or its early inhabitants. 

It will be remembered that the " Manuscript 
Found" was expressly designed to account for 
certain unexplained facts connected with this 
subject. We could have hoped that a person 
making this his especial theme would arrive 
at some results beyond the common vague no- 
tions that generally prevail respecting it. 

The first book of Nephi gives us the only 
positive date of time and place contained in the 
whole work. Fortunately the place is not an 
obscure one, and the time is so well defined in 
various kinds of history, that no one can lack 
17 



258 MORMON ISM AND THE MORMONS, 



data for either verifying or disproving the entire 
narrative of the Book of Mormon. 
Let us hear the author :— 

" I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, 
therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning 
of my father ; and having seen many afflictions in 
the course of my days — nevertheless having been 
highly favoured of the Lord in all my days ; yea, 
having had a great knowledge of the goodness and 
the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of 
my proceedings in my days ; yea, I make a record 
in the language of my father, which consists of the 
learning of the Jew^s and the language of the Egyp- 
tians. And I know that the record which I make is 
true ; and I make it with mine own hand ; and I 
make it according to my knowledge. 

" For it came to pass, in the commencement of 
the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, 
(my father Lehi having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his 
days ;) and in that same year there came many pro- 
phets, prophesying unto the people, that they must re- 
pent, or the great city, Jerusalem, must be destroyed. 

" And it came to pass that the Lord commanded 
my father, even in a dream, that he should take his 
family and depart into the wilderness. And it came 
to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the 
Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. 

" And it came to pass that he departed into the 
wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of 
his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his 
precious things, and took nothing with him save it 
were his family, and provisions, and tents, and de- 
parted into the wilderness ; and he came down by 
the borders near the shore of the Red Sea ; and he 
travelled in the wilderness in the borders which are 
nearer the Red Sea. 



xMORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS, 259 



"And it came to pass that when he had travelled three 
days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley 
by the side of a river of water. And it came to pass 
that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering 
unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our 
God. And it came to pass that he called the name 
of the river Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea ; 
and the valley was in the border near the mouth 
thereof. 

" And when my father saw that the waters of the 
river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he 
spake unto Laman, saying, that thou mJghtest be 
like unto this river, continually running into the foun- 
tain of all righteousness. Now this he spake be- 
cause of the stiff-neckedness of Laman and Lemuel, 
for behold they did murmur in many things against 
their father, because he was a visionary man, and 
had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave 
the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their 
silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wil- 
derness." 

After about thirty pages occupied in detailing 
the speeches and dreams of this visionary man, 
Lehi, and his equally visionary son Nephi ; we 
are made acquainted with the discovery of a 
miraculous something, generally supposed to 
have been a compass. " And it came to pass 
that as my father arose in the morning, and went 
forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment, 
he beheld on the ground a round ball, of curious 
workmanship, and it was of fine brass. And 
Avithin the ball were two spindles : and the one 
pointed the w^ay whither we should go into the 
wilderness.*' 

The expressiveness of the above description 



260 MORMONISM Ax\D THE MORMONS. 



has brought to our mind a passage in the travels 
of Captain Lemuel Gulliver, who, having been 
so unfortunate as to lose his hat when cast 
upon the shores of Lilliput, while yet detained 
as a prisoner by the emperor of that country, 
v/as made glad at heart by the following intel- 
ligence : — 

" There arrived an express to inform his ma- 
jesty, that some of his subjects riding near the 
place where I was first taken up, had seen a 
great black substance lying on the ground, very 
oddly shaped, extending its edges round as 
wide as his majesty's bed chamber, and rising 
up in the middle as high as a man ; that it was 
no living creature as they at first apprehended, 
for it lay on the grass without motion ; and 
some of them had walked round it several 
times ; that by mounting upon each other's 
shoulders, they had got to the top, which was 
flat and even, and stamping upon it they found 
that it was hollow within." 

The discovery of his hat was not a matter of 
greater moment to Captain Gulliver, than was 
the possession of the ball and the spindles to 
our adventurers in the following journeys and 
voyages. 

" And it came to pass that we did take our tents, 
and depart in the wilderness, across the river Laman. 
And it came to pass that we travelled for the space 
of four days, nearly a south southeast direction, and 
we did pitch our tents again ; and we did call the 
name of the place Shazer. 

" And we did go forth again, in the wilderness, 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 261 



following the same direction, keeping in the most fer- 
tile parts of the wilderness, which were in the borders 
near the Red Sea. And it came to pass that we did 
travel for the space of many days, slaying food by 
the way, with our bows and our arrows, and our stones 
and our slings ; and we did follow the directions of 
the ball, w^hich led us in the more fertile parts of the 
wilderness. And after we had travelled for the space 
of many days, we did pitch our tents for the space of 
a time, that we might again rest ourselves, and obtain 
food for our families. 

" And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the 
pointers which were in the ball, that they did w^ork 
according to the faith, and diligence, and heed, which 
we did give unto them. And there was also written 
upon them a new \TOting, which was plain to be read, 
which did give us understanding concerning the ways 
of the Lord : and it was written and changed from 
time to time, according to the faith and diligence 
which we gave unto it. And thus we see, that by 
small means, the Lord can bring about great things. 

" And it came to pass that we did again take our 
journey in the wilderness ; and we did travel nearly 
eastward, from that time forth. 

" And w^e did sojourn for the space of many years, 
yea, even eight years in the wilderness. And we 
did come to the land which we called Bountiful, be- 
cause of its much fruit, and also wild honey ; and all 
these things were prepared of the Lord, that we 
might not perish. And w^e beheld the sea, which we 
called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many 
waters. 

" And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents 
by the sea shore ; and notwithstanding we had suf- 
fered many afflictions, and much difficulty, yea, even 
so much that we cannot write them all, we were ex- 
ceedingly rejoiced when we came to the sea shore ; 



262 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much 
fruit. 

" And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, 
saying, Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner 
which I shall shew thee, that I may carry thy people 
across these waters. And I said, Lord, whither 
shall I go, that I may find ore to molten, that I may 
make tools to construct the ship, after the manner 
which thou hast shewn unto me 1 And it came to 
pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to 
find ore, that I might make tools. 

" And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a 
bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of 
beasts ; and after I had made a bellows, that I might 
have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two 
stones together, that I might make fire ; for the Lord 
had not hitherto suffered that we should make much 
fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness. 

" And it came to pass that I did make tools of the 
ore which I did molten out of the rock. And when 
my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, 
they began to murmur against me, saying. Our bro- 
ther is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship : 
yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these 
great waters. And thus my brethren did complain 
against me, and were desirous that they might not 
labour, for they did not believe that I could build a 
ship : neither would they believe that I was instruct- 
ed of the Lord. 

" Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the 
manner which was learned by men, neither did I 
build the ship after the manner of men ; but I did 
build it after the manner which the Lord had shewn 
unto me ; wherefore, it was not after the manner of 
men. 

" And it came to pass that after I had finished the 
ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 263 

beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship 
thereof w^as exceeding fine ; wherefore, they did 
humble themselves again before the Lord. 

" And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord 
came unto my father, that we should arise and go 
down into the ship. And it came to pass that on the 
morrow, after we had prepared all things, much fruits 
and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abun- 
dance, and provisions, according to that w^hich the 
Lord had commanded us, we did go down into the 
ship with all our loading and our seeds, and whatso- 
ever thing we had brought with us, everyone accord- 
ing to his age ; wherefore, we did go dow^n into the 
ship, with our wives and our children. 

" And it came to pass after we had ail gone down 
into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions 
and things which had been commanded us, we did 
put forth into the sea, and were driven forth before 
the wind, toward the promised land ; and after we 
had been driven forth before the wind, for the space 
of many days, behold my brethren, and the sons of 
Ishmael, and also their wives, began to make them- 
selves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and 
to sing, and to speak with much rudeness ; ye-a, even 
that they did forget by what power they had been 
brought thither ; yea, they were lifted up unto ex- 
ceeding rudeness. 

" And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did 
take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat 
me with much harshness. 

" And it came to pass that after they had bound 
me, insomuch that I could not move, the compass, 
which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to 
work ; w'herefore, they knew not whither they should 
steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great 
storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest; and we 
were driven back upon tlie waters for the space of 



264 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



three days ; and they hegan to be frightened exceed- 
ingly, lest they should be drowned in the sea : never- 
theless, they did not loose me. And on the fourth 
day which we had been driven back, the tempest be- 
gan to be exceeding sore. 

" And it came to pass that we were about to be 
swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after 
we had been driven back upon the waters for the 
space of four days, my brethren began to see that the 
judgments of God were upon them, and that they 
must perish, save that they should repent of their in- 
iquities ; wherefore, they came unto me and loosed 
the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold, 
they had swollen exceedingly ; and also mine ankles 
were much swollen, and great was the soreness 
thereof. ^ 

" Now, my father Lehi had said many things unto 
them, and also unto the sons of Ishmael ; but, behold, 
they did breathe out much threatenings against any 
one that should speak for me ; and my parents being 
stricken in years, and having suffered much grief be- 
cause of their children, they were brought down, yea, 
even upon their sick beds. Because of their grief, 
and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my brethren, 
they were brought near even to be carried out of this 
time, to meet their God ; yea, their grey hairs were 
about to be brought down to lie low in the dust ; yea, 
even they were near to be east, with sorrow, into a 
watery grave. 

" And it came to pass after they had loosed me, 
behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither 
I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto 
the Lord ; and after I had prayed, the winds did cease, 
and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm. 

" And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the 
ship, that we sailed again toward the promised land. 
And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 265 

Space of many days, we did arrive to the promised 
land ; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch 
our tents ; and we did call it the promised land. 

" And it came to pass that we did find upon the 
land of promise, as w^e journeyed in the wilderness, 
that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, 
both the cow^ and the ox, and the ass, and the horse, 
and the goat, and the wild goat, and all manner of 
wild animals, which were for the use of men. And 
we did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of sil- 
ver, and of copper." 

Verily here is multum in parvo ! What a 
model for future travellers ! Captain Gulliver 
can no longer be considered as the standard of 
excellence in this species of writing. In order 
fully to appreciate the beauties, as well as the 
consistency, of this narrative, let us turn to an 
approved map of Palestine, and the adjoining 
countries. 

On the supposition that the Lord was actu- 
ally about to people the western continent by 
means of this family, the first query that arises 
is, why were they not directed to the Mediterra- 
nean Sea, which was so near Jerusalem, instead 
of being made to perform the long and perilous 
journey to the borders of the Red Sea ? more 
especially since the voyage through the former 
would have been shorter by six or seven thou- 
sand miles, (no trifling distance,) than the one 
performed according to the data given. An 
easterly course from the borders of the Red Sea 
would have taken them across the Desert of 
Arabia to the Persian Gulf. 

Without discussing the practicability of these 



266 



MORMOXISM AX0 THE MORMONS. 



persons securing, by means of the bow and 
arrow, in such a region, not only their daily 
food, but also the stores necessary for a long 
voyage at sea, we will suppose them all duly 
embarked on board the ship, miraculously con- 
structed by one man, while his brothers were 
wasting their time in idleness. 

We now feel some curiosity to know whether 
the vessel w^as navigated by sails, by steam, or 
by magnetic power. In the absence of all posi- 
tive information, we observe that, different from 
most vessels at sea, she was driven before the 
wind on her direct course, until^ through the 
exceeding wickedness of the brethren of Nephi, 
^' the compass did cease to work, wherefore, they 
knew not whither they should steer the ship, 
insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a 
great and a terrible tempest." "What a pity our 
author had not employed himself in noting his 
courses and distances, instead of describing the 
swellings of his wrists and ankles, and " the 
great soreness thereof !" The world would have 
placed more value upon the simple log-book of 
such a voyage, than it ever will upon the Book 
of Mormon as we have it. After all, it appears 
that the compass was of no value, for " it did 
work whither I [Nephi] desired it." Hence he 
might have steered the ship whither he desired, 
just as well without the compass. What a fund 
of knowledge this individual possessed ! He 
must either have known how to sail directly 
over such continents and islands as lay between 
him and his destination, or have been so ac- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 267 

quainted with their latitude and longitude, as to 
know how to avoid them. In either case, he 
was quite in advance of his times ! The same 
explicitness of detail, which characterizes the 
journal of the voyage, prevails in the descrip- 
tion of the country upon which he landed, 
" And it came to pass after we had sailed for 
the space of many days, we did arrive to the 
promised land ; and we went forth upon the 
land, and did pitch our tents, and we did call 
it the promised land." 

About five hundred pages of this precious 
record are now devoted to the history of this 
people, called a remnant of Joseph. Through- 
out the whole there prevails a perspicuity of 
style fully in keeping with the above examples, 
although some of the details are less credible. 

We submit a condensed view of the whole, 
in the language of O. Pratt, professor of mathe- 
matics and English literature in the Nauvoo 
University, who, by some means, has discover- 
ed that the voyage above alluded to was made 
across the Pacific Ocean, terminating on the 
western coast of South America. 

Taking all manner of liberties with the text, 
this gentleman has done the very best toward 
making out an intelligible narrative from the 
Book of Mormon. The reader will therefore 
please respect the following extract as the con- 
centration of " a flood of light." 

" Soon after they landed, they separated 
themselves into two distinct nations. This di- 
vision was caused by a certain portion of them 



268 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

being greatly persecuted, because of their right- 
eousness, by the remainder. The persecuted 
nation emigrated toward the northern parts of 
South America, leaving the wicked nation in 
possession of the middle and southern parts of 
the same. The former were called Nephites, 
being led by a prophet who was called Nephi. 
The latter were called Lamanites, being led by 
a very wicked man, whose name was Laman. 
The Nephites had in their possession a copy 
of the Holy Scriptures, viz., the five books of 
Moses, and the prophecies of the holy prophets, 
down to Jeremiah, in whose days they left Je- 
rusalem. These Scriptures were engraved on 
plates of brasSj in the Egyptian language. 
They themselves also made plates, soon after 
their landing, on which they began to engrave 
their own history, prophecies, visions, and re- 
velations. All these sacred records were kept 
by holy and righteous men, who were inspired 
by the Holy Ghost ; and were carefully pre- 
served and handed down from generation to 
generation. 

" And the Lord gave unto them the whole 
continent for a land of promise ; and promised 
that they, and their children after them, should 
inherit it, on condition of their obedience to his 
commandments ; but if they were disobedient, 
they should be cut off from his presence. And 
the Nephites began to prosper in the land, ac- 
cording to their righteousness, and multiplied 
and spread forth to the east, west, and north ; 
building large villages, cities, synagogues, and 



MORMONiSM AND THE MORMONS. 269 



temples, together with forts, towers, and fortifi- 
cations, to defend themselves against their ene- 
mies. And they cultivated the earth, and raised 
various kinds of grain in abundance. They also 
raised numerous flocks of domestic animals, and 
became a very wealthy people, having in abund- 
ance gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, &c. Arts 
and sciences flourished to a great extent. Va- 
rious kinds of machinery were in use. Cloths 
of various kinds were manufactured. Swords, 
cimeters, axes, and various implements of war 
were made, together with head-shields, arm- 
shields, and breast-plates, to defend themselves 
in battle with their enemies. And in the days 
of their righteousness, they were a civilized, 
enlightened, and happy people. 

" But on the other hand, the Lamanites, be- 
cause of the hardness of their hearts, brought 
down many judgments upon their own heads ; 
nevertheless, they were not destroyed as a na- 
tion ; but the Lord God sent forth a curse upon 
them, and they became a dark, loathsome, and 
filthy people. Before their rebellion they were 
white and exceedingly fair, like the Nephites ; 
but the Lord God cursed them in their complex- 
ions, and they were changed to a dark colour, 
and they became a wild, savage, and ferocious 
people, being great enemies to the Nephites, 
whom they sought by every means to destroy, 
and many times came against them, with their 
numerous hosts, to battle, but were repulsed, 
and driven back to their own possession ; not, 
however, generally speaking, without great loss 



270 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



on botti sides ; for tens of thousands were rery 
frequently slain, after which they were piled 
together in great heaps upon the face of the 
ground, and covered with a shallow covering 
of earth, which will satisfactorily account for 
those ancient mounds filled with human bones, 
so numerous at the present day, both in North 
and South America." 

Unfortunately for Professor Pratt's literary 
reputation, such mounds are not met with in 
South America. 

According to him also, " In the eleventh year 
of the reign of Zedekiah, at the time the Jews 
were carried away captive into Babylon, an- 
other remnant were brought out of Jerusalem, 
some of v/hom were descendants of Judah. 
They landed in North America, soon after 
which they emigrated into the northern parts 
of South America, at which place they were 
discovered by the r.emnant of Joseph, something 
like four hundred years after. 

" They were called the people of Zarahem- 
la. They had been perplexed with many wars 
among themselves : and havino^ brought no re- 
cords with them, their language had become 
corrupted, and they denied the being of God ; 
and at the time they were discovered by the 
Nephites, they were very numerous, and only 
in a partial state of civilization ; but the Ne- 
phites united with them, and taught them the 
Holy Scriptures, and they were restored to ci- 
vilization, and became one nation with them. 
And in process of time the Nephites began to 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



271 



build ships near the Isthmus of Daiien, and 
launch them forth into the western ocean, in 
which great numbers sailed a great distance to 
the northward, and began to colonize North 
America. Other colonies emigrated by land, 
and in a few centuries the whole continent be- 
came peopled. North America, at that time, 
was almost entirely destitute of timber, it hav- 
ing been cut off by the more ancient race, who 
came from the great tower, at the confusion of 
languages ; but the Nephites became very skil- 
ful in building houses of cement ; also much 
timber was carried by the way of shipping from 
South to North America. They also planted 
groves, and began to raise timber, that in time 
their wants might be supplied. Large cities 
were built in various parts of the continent, 
both among the Lamanites and Nephites. The 
law of Moses was observed by the latter. Nu- 
merous prophets were raised up, from time to 
time, throughout their generations. Many re- 
cords, both historical and prophetical, which 
were of great size, were kept among them ; 
some on plates of gold and other metals, and 
some on other materials. The sacred records, 
also of the more ancient race who had been 
destroyed, were found by them. These were 
engraved on plates of gold. They translated 
them into their own language, by the gift and 
power of God, through the means of the Urim 
and Thummim. They contained an historical 
account from the creation down to the tower of 
Babel, and from that time down until they were 



272 MORMONISM AND TH-E MORMONS. 

destroyed, comprising a period of about thirty- 
four hundred, or thirty-five hundred years. 
They also contained many prophecies, great 
and marvellous, reaching forward to the final 
end and consummation of all things, and the 
creation of the new heaven and new earth. 

" The prophets also among the Nephites 
prophesied of great things. They opened the 
secrets of futurity— saw the coming of the Mes- 
siah in the flesh — prophesied of the blessings 
to come upon their descendants in the latter 
times — made known the history of unborn gene- 
rations — imfolded the great events of ages to 
come — viewed the power, glory, and majesty 
of Messiah's second advent — beheld the esta- 
blishment of the kingdom of peace— gazed upon 
the glories of the day of righteousness — saw 
creation redeemed from the curse, and all the 
righteous filled with songs of everlasting joy. 

"The Nephites knew of the birth and cruci- 
fixion of Christ, by certain celestial and terres- 
trial phenomena, which, at those times, were 
shown forth in fulfilment of the predictions of 
many of their prophets. Notwithstanding the 
many blessings with which they had been 
blessed, they had fallen into great wickedness, 
and had cast out the saints and the prophets, 
and stoned and killed them. Therefore, at the 
time of the crucifixion of Christ, they were 
visited in great judgment. Thick darkness 
covered the whole continent. The earth was 
terribly convulsed. The rocks were rent into 
broken fragments, and afterward found in seams 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 273 



and cracks upon all the face of the land. Mount- 
ains were sunk into valleys, and valleys raised 
into mountains. The highways and level roads 
were broken up and spoiled. Many cities were 
laid in ruins. Others were buried up in the 
depths of the earth, and mountains occupied 
their place. While others were sunk, and wa- 
ters came up in their stead, and others still were 
burned by fire from heaven. 

" Thus the predictions of their prophets were 
fulfilled upon their heads. Thus the more 
wicked part, both of the Nephites and Laman- 
ites, were destroyed. Thus the Almighty ex- 
ecuted vengeance and fury upon them, that the 
blood of the saints and prophets might no longer 
cry from the ground against them. 

" Those who survived these terrible judg- 
ments were favoured with the personal minis- 
try of Christ : for after he arose from the dead, 
finished his ministry at Jerusalem, and ascend- 
ed to heaven, he descended in the presence of 
the Nephites, who were assembled round about 
their temples in the northern parts of South 
America. He exhibited to them his wounded 
hands, side, and feet — commanded the law of 
Moses to be abolished — introduced and esta- 
blished the gospel in its stead — chose twelve 
disciples from among them to administer the 
same — instituted the sacrament — prayed for 
and blessed their little children — healed their 
sick, blind, lame, deaf, and those who were af- 
flicted in any way — raised a man from the dead 
— showed forth his power in their midst — ex- 
18 



274 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 

pounded the Scriptures which had been given 
from the beginning down to that time, and made 
known unto them all things which should take 
place down until he should come in his glory, 
and from that time down to the end, when all 
people, nations, and languages, shall stand be- 
fore God to be judged, and the heaven and the 
earth should pass away, and there should be a 
new heaven and new earth. These teachings 
of Jesus were engraved upon plates, some of 
which are contained in the Book of Mormon ; 
but the greater part are not revealed in that 
book, but are hereafter to he made manifest to 
the saints. 

" After Jesus had finished ministering unto 
them, he ascended into heaven ; and the twelve 
disciples, whom he had chosen, went forth upon 
all the face of the land, preaching the gospel, 
baptizing those who repented, for the remission 
of sins, after which they laid their hands upon 
them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 
Mighty miracles were wrought by them, and 
also by many of the church. The Nephites 
and Lamanites were all converted unto the 
Lord, both in South and North America ; and 
they dwelt in righteousness above three hun- 
dred years : but toward the close of the fourth 
century of the Christian era, they had so far 
apostatized from God, that he suffered great 
judgments to fall upon them. The Lamanites, 
at that time, dwelt in South America, and the 
Nephites in North America. 

" A great and terrible war commenced be- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 275 



tween them, which lasted for many years, and 
resulted in the complete overthrow and destruQ- 
tion of the Nephites. This war commenced at 
the Isthmus of Darien, and was very destruct- 
ive to both nations for many years. At length 
the Nephites were driven before their enemies, 
a great distance to the north, and north-east ; 
and having gathered their whole nation toge- 
ther, both men, women, and children, they en- 
camped on and round about the hill Cumorah, 
where the records were found, which is in the 
state of New-York, about two hundred miles 
west of the city of Albany. Here they were 
met by the numerous hosts of the Lamanites, 
and were slain, and hewn down, and slaugh- 
tered, both male and female — the aged, middle- 
aged, and children. Hundreds of thousands 
were slain on both sides ; and the nation of the 
Nephites were destroyed, excepting a few who 
had deserted over to the Lamanites, and a few 
who escaped into the south country, and a few 
who fell wounded, and were left by the Laman- 
ites on the field of battle for dead, among whom 
were Mormon and his son Moroni, who were 
righteous men." 

Listen now to the lamentations of Moroni ! 

" Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my 
father Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to 
write, which things I have been commanded of my 
father. And now it came to pass that after the great 
and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Ne- 
phites, who had escaped into the country southward, 
were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all 



276 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



destroyed ; and my father also was killed by them ; 
and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the 
destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, 
and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And 
whether they will slay me, I know not ; therefore I 
will write and hide up the records in the earth, and 
whither I go it mattereth not. Behold, my father 
hath made this record, and he hath written the intent 
thereof. And behold, I would write it also, if I had 
room upon the plates ; but I have not ; and ore I have 
none, for I am alone : my father hath been slain in 
battle, and all my kinsfolks, and I have not friends 
nor whither to go ; and how long the Lord will suf- 
fer that I may live, I know not. Behold, four hun- 
dred years have passed away since the coming of our 
Lord and Saviour. And behold, the Lamanites have 
hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to 
city, and from place to place, even until they are no 
more, and great has been their fall ; yea, great and 
marvellous is the destruction of my people, the Ne- 
phites. And behold, also, the Lamanites are at w^ar 
one with another ; and the whole face of this land is 
one continual round of murder and bloodshed ; and no 
one knoweth the end of the war." 

Who would suppose that after having wit- 
nessed such 

Strange accidents of flood and field 

after having survived his entire nation, this 
man would now concern himself about literary 
fame! Yet he is represented as proceeding to 
say, 

" Whoso receiveth this record, and shall not con- 
demn it because of the imperfections which are in it, 
[a strong appeal this to critics !] the same shall know 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 277 

of greater things than these. Behold, I am Mo- 
roni ; and were it possible, I would make all things 
known unto you. [A most benevolent design.] Be- 
hold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the 
dead; for I know that ye [who'?] shall hear my 
words. 

" And now behold, we have written this record ac- 
cording to our knowledge, in the characters which 
are called, among us, the reformed Egyptian, being 
handed down and altered by us, according to our 
manner of speech. And if our plates had been suffi- 
ciently large, we should have written in Hebrew ; 
but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also ; and if 
we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would 
have had no imperfection in our record. But the 
Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and 
also that none other people knoweth our language, 
therefore he hath prepared means for the interpreta- 
tion thereof." 

Moroni goes still further, and turning his at- 
tention to the study of antiquities, produces the 
book of Ether, containing, decidedly, the most 
remarkable narrative found in the Book of Mor- 
mon. 

Were Dean Swift alive, he would, perhaps, 
in comparison with this writer, find himself 
much in the condition of his own Gulliver, 
when expecting to be swallowed or crushed to 
death by the Mannikins ! 

The plain English of the circumstance is 
this. The author, having nearly completed his 
book, becomes so conscious of the absurdity of 
attempting to people the whole western conti- 
nent by means of a single family from Jerusa- 



278 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



lem, so late as 600 B. C, hastens back to the 
confusion of tongues, at the tower of Babel, and 
imports several families, called the people of 
Jared. Of these he makes a " very numerous 
and powerful people," but is cruel enough to 
destroy them all long before the Nephites ar- 
rived, so that nothing but their bones could be 
found, and the plates containing their history. 
Witness the whole process, abridged in his 
own words. 

" And it came to pass that Jared, and his brother, 
and their families, and also the friends of Jared and 
his brother, and their families, went down into the 
valley which w^as northward, with their flocks which 
they had gathered together, male and female, of every 
kind. And they did also lay snares and catch fowls 
of the air ; and they did also prepare a vessel, in 
which they did carry with them the fish of the wa- 
ters ; and they did also carry with them deseret, 
which, by interpretation, is a honey-bee ; and thus 
they did carry with them swarms of bees, and all 
manner of that which was upon the face of the land, 
seeds of every kind. 

" And it came to pass that the Jjord commanded 
them that they should go forth into the wilderness, 
yea, into that quarter where there never had man 
been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go be- 
fore them, and did talk wdth them as he stood in a 
cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel. 
And it came to pass that they did travel in the wil- 
derness, and did build barges, in which they did cross 
many waters, being directed continually by the hand 
of the Lord. And the Lord would not suffer that 
they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but. 
he would that they should come forth even unto the 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 279 



land of promise, which was choice above all other 
lands which the Lord God had preserved for a right- 
eous people. 

" And the Lord said, Go to work and build, after 
the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built. 
And it came to pass tliat the brother of Jared did go 
to work, and also his brethren, and built barges after 
the manner which they had built, according to the 
instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and 
they were light upon the water, even like unto the 
lightness of a fowl upon the water ; and they were 
built after a manner that they icere exceeding tight ^ 
even that they would hold water like unto a dish ; 
and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish ; 
and the sides thereof wave tight like unto a dish ; and 
the ends thereof were peaked ; and the top thereof 
tuas tight like unto a dish ; and the length thereof 
was the length of a tree ; and the door thereof, when 
it was shut, was tight like unto a dish. And it came 
to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, 
saying, Lord, I have performed the work which 
thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges 
according as thou hast directed me. And behold, O 
Lord, in them there is no light, whither shall we 
steer. And also we shall perish, for in them we can- 
not breathe, save it is the air which is in them ; there- 
fore we shall perish. And the Lord said unto the 
brother of Jared, Behold, thou shalt make a hole in 
the top thereof and also in the bottom thereof; and 
when thou shalt suffer for air, thou shalt unstop the 
hole thereof, and receive air. And if it so be that the 
water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the 
hole thereof, that ye may not perish in the flood. 
And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, 
according as the Lord had commanded. And he 
cried again unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, behold I 
kave done even as thou hast commanded me ; and I 



280 MOR3iOXIS3r AXD THE MORMONS, 



have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold, 
there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou 
suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness 1 
And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared, What 
wil] ye that I should do that ye may have light in 
your vessels T For behold, ye cannot have windows, 
for^they will he dashed in pieces ; neither shall ye 
take fire with yoo, for ye shall not go by the light of 
fire ; for behold, ye shall le as a iDhale in the midst 
of the sea ; for the mountain waves shall dash upon 
you. Nevertheless, I will bring yon up again out of 
the depths of the sea : for the winds have gone forth 
out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods 
have I sent forth. 

" And it came to pass that the brother of Jared 
(now the number of the vessels which had been pre- 
pared was eight) went forth unto the mount, which 
they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceed- 
ing height, and did moulten out of a rock sixteen 
small stones ; and they were white and clear, even 
as transparent glass, and he did carry them in his 
hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto 
the Lord, saying, O Lord, thou hast said that we must 
be encompassed about by the floods. O Lord, look 
upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this 
thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth 
across this raging deep in darkness, but behold these 
things which I have moulten out of the rock. And 
I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do 
whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man ; there- 
fore touch these stones, Lord, with thy finger, and 
prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness ; 
and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels 
which we have prepared, that we may have light 
while we shall cross the sea. And it came to pass 
that when the brother of Jared had said these words, 
behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 281 

the stones, one by one, with his finger ; and the veil 
was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, 
and he saw the finger of the Lord ; and it was as the 
finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood ; and the 
brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was 
struck with fear. 

" It came to pass after the Lord had prepared the 
stones which the brother of Jared had carried up into 
the mount, the brother of Jared came down out of the 
mount, and he did put forth the stones into the ves- 
sels w^hich were prepared, one in each end thereof ; 
and behold, they did give light unto the vessels 
thereof. And thus the Lord caused stones to shine 
in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and chil- 
dren, that they might not cross the great waters in 
darkness. 

" And it came to pass that when they had prepared 
all manner of food, that thereby they might subsist 
upon the water, and also food for their flocks and 
herds, and whatsoever beast, or animal, or fowl that 
they should carry with them. And it came to pass 
that when they had done all these things, they got 
aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into 
the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their 
God. And it came to pass that the Lord God caused 
that there should a furious wind blow^ upon the face 
of the waters, toward the promised land : and thus 
they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before 
the wind. And it ca?ne to pass that they were many 
times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the 
mountain weaves which broke upon them, and also the 
great and terrible tempests which were caused by the 
fierceness of the wind. 

" And it came to pass that when they were buried 
in the deep, there was no water that could hurt them, 
their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also 
they were tight like unto the ark of Noah ; therefore 



282 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



when they were encompassed about by many waters, 
they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them 
forth again upon the top of the waters. And it came 
to pass that the wind did never cease to blow toward 
the promised land, while they were upon the waters : 
and thus they were driven forth before the wind ; and 
they did sing praises unto the Lord ; yea, the brother 
of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did 
thank and praise the Lord all the day long ; and when 
the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord. 
And thus they were driven forth ; and no monster of 
the sea could break them, neither whale that could 
mar them ; and they did have light continually, whe- 
ther it was above the water or under the water. 
And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and 
forty and four days upon the water ; and they did land 
upon the shore of the promised land. And when they 
had set their feet upon the shores of the promised 
land, they bowed themselves down upon the face of 
the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, 
and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of 
the multitude of his tender mercies over them. 

" And it came to pass that they went forth upon the 
face of the land, and began to till the earth. And it 
came to pass that they began to spread upon the face 
of the land, and multiply and to till the earth ; and 
they did wax strong in the land. 

" And they built a great city by the narrow neck 
of land, by the place where the sea divides the land. 
And they did preserve the land southward for a wil- 
derness, to get game. And the whole face of the 
land northward was covered with inhabitants ; and 
they were exceeding industrious, and they did buy 
and sell, and traffic one with another, that they might 
get gain. And they did work in all manner of ore, 
and they did make gold, and silver, and iron, and 
brass, and all manner of metals ; and they did dig it 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 283 

oat of the earth ; wherefore they did cast up mighty 
heaps of earth to get ore, of gold, and of silver, and 
of iron, and of copper. And they did work all man- 
ner of fine work. And they did have silks, and fine- 
twined linen ; and they did work all manner of cloth, 
that they might clothe themselves from their naked- 
ness. And they did make all manner of tools to till 
the earth, both to plough and to sow% to reap and to 
hoe, and also to thrash. And they did make all man- 
ner of tools with which they did w^ork their beasts. 
And they did make all manner of weapons of w^ar. 
And they did work all manner of work of exceeding 
curious workmanship. And never could be a people 
more blessed than w^ere they, and more prospered by 
the hand of the Lord. And they w^ere in a land 
that w^as choice above all lands, for the Lord had 
spoken it." 

How long this happy state of things continued 
we are not informed. The narrative breaks it 
off very suddenly by a description of bloody 
wars, in the mere skirmishes of which two 
millions of men were slain on one side, yea, 
" of mighty men, and also their wives and their 
children." 

The parties in this civil strife having now 
become fairly enraged, proceeded to end their 
difficulties by a final contest, which resulted 
very much like the famous battle between the 
cats of Kilkenny. 

" They were for the space of four years gathering 
together the people,'that they might get all \vho were 
upon the face of the land, and that they might receive 
all the strength w^hich it was possible that they could 
receive. And it came to pass that when they were 
all gathered together, every one to the army which 



284 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



he would, with their wives, and their children ; both 
men, ivomen and children being armed with weapons 
of war, having shields, and breast-plates, and head- 
plates, and being clothed after the manner of war, 
they did march forth one against another, to battle ; 
and they fought all that day, and conquered not. And 
it came to pass that when it was night they were 
weary, and retired to their camps ; and after they had 
retired to their camps, they took up a howling and a 
lamentation for the loss of the slain of their people ; 
and so great were their cries, their bowlings, and 
lamentations, that it did rend the air exceedingly. 
And it came to pass that on the morrow they did go 
again to battle, and great and terrible was that day ; 
nevertheless they conquered not, and when the night 
came again, they did rend the air with their cries, 
and their bowlings, and their mournings, for the loss 
of the slain of their people. 

" They went again to battle. And it came to pass 
that they fought all that day, and when the night 
came they slept upon their swords ; and on the mor- 
row they fought even until the night came ; and when 
the night came they were drunken with anger, even 
as a man who is drunken with wine ; and they slept 
again upon .their swords ; and on the morrow they 
fought again ; and when the night came they had all 
fallen by the sword, save it were fifty and two of the 
people of Coriantumr, and sixty and nine of the peo- 
ple of Shiz. And it came to pass that they slept 
upon their swords that night, and on the morrow they 
fought again, and they contended in their mights with 
their swords, and with their shields, all that day; and 
when the night came there were thirty and two of 
the people of Shiz, and twenty and seven of the peo- 
ple of Coriantumr. And it came to pass that they 
ate and slept, and prepared for death on the morrow. 
And they were large and mighty men, as to the 



MORMON ISM AND THE MORMONS. 



285 



strength of men. And it came to pass that they 
fought for the space of three hours, and they fainted 
with the loss of blood. And it came to pass that 
when the men of Coriantumr had received sufficient 
strength that they could walk, they were about to 
flee for their lives, but behold, Shiz arose, and also 
his men, and he sware in his wrath that he would 
slay Coriantumr, or he would perish by the sword : 
wherefore he did pursue them, and on the morrow 
he did overtake them ; and they fought again with 
the sword. And it came to pass that when they had 
all fallen by the sword, save it were Coriantumr and 
Shiz, behold, Shiz had fainted with the loss of blood. 
And it came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned 
upon his sword, that he rested a little, he smote off 
the head of Shiz. Ayid it came to pass that after he 
had smote off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised upon 
his hands and fell ; and after that he had struggled 
for breath, he died. And it came to pass that Corian- 
tumr fell to the earth, and became as if he had no life." 

Perhaps the reader has anticipated from 
some of the expressions above quoted, that the 
recent discovery of ruined cities in Central 
America would be appealed to in corroboration 
of the Book of Mormon. 

Such is the fact. A report of one of Mr. 
Catherwood's lectures on American antiquities 
is published in the Times and Seasons, under 
the taking caption, — more proofs of the book 

OF MORMON. 

The uncertainty acknowledged to exist with 
respect to this whole subject, renders it a suit- 
able topic for such appeals as the Mormons 
usually make in order to darken counsel with 
words. But we will not enter into controversy 



286 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS, 



here, since we should be sorry to rob Messrs, 
Stephens and Catherwood of any honours which 
might accrue to them, from having substantiated 
the truth of the Book of Mormon. We will 
only express a hope that "Joseph the seer," in 
return for the self-denying labours of those 
gentlemen, will at least do them the kindness 
to interpret the hieroglyphics with which they 
were so sadly puzzled. He ought to be very 
familiar with them, since, according to the latest 
version of the story, he translated his book not 
from the Egyptian, the reformed Egyptian, or 
the Egyptian and Hebrew, as he has before 
said at different times ; but from " hierogly- 
phics PECULIAR to the people whose history it 
gives." 

Being furnished moreover with an accurate 
copy of those hieroglyphics now before the 
public, what excuse can he have for hesitating 
to brush up his " big specs," anciently called 
interpreters," and deluge the waiting world with 
a new "flood of light!" 

The only point of interest which remains to 
be noticed in this connection, is the Mormon 
method of accounting for the colour of the abo- 
riginal Americans, generally denominated red 
men. We will not dispute about the terms used 
in the extracts, since a " skin of blackness" re- 
sembles copper colour about as much as the lan- 
guage of our author generally approximates to 
the truth. 

" And he had caused the cursing to come upon 
them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their in- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 287 



iqiiity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts 
against him, that they had become like unto a flint ; 
wherefore, as they were white, and exceeding fair 
and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto 
my people, the Lord God did cause a skin of black- 
ness to come upon them. And thus saith the Lord 
God, I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto 
thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities. 
And because of their cursing which was upon them, 
they did become an idle people, full of mischief and 
subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of 
prey. And the Lord God said unto me, [Nephi,] They 
shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in 
remembrance of me ; and they shall scourge them 
even unto destruction." 



CHAPTER XY. 

Prophecies — Plagiarisms — Caricature of Scripture — 
Plates — Contrivance to forestall objections — Harris's visit 
to Dr. Anthon^ — Dr. Anthon's letter — Immersion insti- 
tuted — Wickedness of infant baptism — Duplicity of Mor- 
mon teachers exhibited — Their system carried out — Fool- 
ish vagaries — Rival revelator in New-York — Phelps' hu- 
miliation — Cowdery's present position — Reprobation of 
Kirtland — Patriarch's office — Blessing meetings — Sum- 
mary and conclusion. 

Having now given all the important geogra- 
phical and historical information we have been 
able to find in the Book of Mormon, including 
several notable miracles, we pass to observe 
that it contains numerous prophecies. Some 
of these are such as any writer of a romance 
might safely make and verify in the course of 
his story. 



288 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

The following is designed to apply to Joseph 
Smith and Sidney Rigdon, the Moses and Aaron 
of Mor monism : — 

" For Joseph truly testified, saying, A seer shall 
the Lord my God raise up, who shall he a choice 
seer unto the fruit of my loins. Yea, Joseph truly 
said, thus saith the Lord unto me : A choice seer 
will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins ; and he 
shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. 
And unto him will I give commandment, that he shall 
do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, 
which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the 
bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants 
which I have made with thy fathers. And I will give 
unto him a commandment, that he shall do none other 
work, save the work which I shall command him. 
And I will make him great in mine eyes : for he 
shall do my work. And he shall be great like unto 
Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, 
to deliver my people, O house of Israel. And Moses 
will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land 
of Egypt. But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit 
of thy loins ; and unto him will I give power to bring 
forth my word unto the seed of thy loins ; and not to 
the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but 
to the convincing them of my \vord, which shall have 
already gone forth among them. Wherefore, the 
fruit of thy loins shall write ; and the fruit of the 
loins of Judah shall write ; and that which shall be 
written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which 
shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, 
shall grow together, unto the confounding of false 
doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and esta- 
blishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bring- 
ing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the lat- 
ter days ; and also to the knovidedge of my cove- 
nants, saith the Lord. And out of weakness he shall 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 289 

be made strong, in tliat day when my work shall com- 
mence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, 
O house of Israel, saith the Lord. And thus prophe- 
sied Joseph, saying, Behold that seer will the Lord 
bless ; and they that seek to destroy him, shall be 
confounded : for this promise, of which I have ob- 
tained, of the Lord, of the fruit of thy loins, shall be 
fulfilled. Behold I am sure of the fulfilling of this 
promise. And his name shall be called after me ; 
and it shall be after the name of his father^ [J. Smith.] 
And he shall be like unto me ; for the thing w^hich 
the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power 
of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation ; 
yea, thus prophesied Joseph, I am sure of this thing, 
even as I am sure of the promise of Moses : for the 
Lord hath said unto me, 1 w^ill preserve thy seed for 
ever. And the Lord hath said, I w^ill raise up a Mo- 
ses ; and I will give power unto him in a rod ; and I 
will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will 
not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much : fori 
wall not make him mighty in speaking. But I will 
write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own 
hand ; and I wdll make a spokesman for him, [Rig- 
don.] And the Lord said unto me also, I will raise 
up unto the fruit of thy loins ; and I will make 
for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give 
unto him, that he shall write the writing of the 
fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins ; and the 
spokesman of thy loins shall declare it. And the 
words which he shall write, shall be the words which 
are expedient in my wisdom, should go forth unto 
the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit 
of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust ; for I 
know their faith. And they shall cry from the dust ; 
yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after 
many generations have gone by them. And it shall 
come to pass that their cry shall go, even according 
t'j the simpleness of their words." 

19 



290 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



Another class is made up of passages from 
Scripture, wickedly garbled and interpolated. 
The prophecies of Nephi claim to have been 
delivered about five hundred and fifty years be- 
fore Christ. From them we extract the fol- 
lowing example : — 

"Wherefore, I would that ye should remember 
that I have spoken unto you, concerning that prophet 
which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize 
the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins 
of the world. And now, if the Lamb of God, he be- 
ing holy, should have need to be baptized with water, 
to fulfil all righteousness^ O then, how much more 
need have we, bemg unholy, to be baptized, yea, even 
by water. x\nd now, I would ask of you, my be- 
loved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil 
all righteousness in being baptized by water "? Know 
ye not that he was holy ? But notwithstanding he 
being holy, he showeth unto the children of men, 
that according to the flesh, he humbleth himself be- 
fore the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that 
he would be obedient unto him in keeping his com- 
mandments ; wherefore, after he was baptized with 
water, the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the 
form of a dove. 

" And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is 
the way ; and there is none other way nor name 
given under heaven, whereby man can he saved in the 
kingdom of God. And now, behold this is the doc- 
trine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which 
is one God, without end. Amen." 

What a striking coincidence between the 
translation of certain uncouth hieroglyphics, en- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 291 



graven on metal plates some centuries ago, and 
the language of King James' Bible ! 

Such coincidence subserves no imaginable 
end, other than to fix the brand of plagiarism 
upon this stupid attempt to counterfeit the vi^ord 
of God. 

To any one who may have occasion to ex- 
amine the Book of Mormon, we give the fol- 
lowing references under this head : — 

Parts of Book of Mormon. Where found. 



Thus by a very hasty examination any one 
may see that thirty-one pages out of five hun- 
dred and seventy, or one-eighteenth part of the 
whole volume, is stolen property. It has been 
plundered from the living oracles of God, and 
wrought in by piece-meal to give countenance 
to a silly fabrication. » 

Let any one peruse the chaste, and, in seve- 
ral instances, sublime language of the scriptures 
above referred to, and then say if we have used 
terms too disrespectful of the Mormon context. 
Here follows an example of the latter : — 

" And now there cannot be written in this book, 
even a hundredth part of the^things which Jesus did 



Pages 53-56, 



75-77, 
85-101, 
466-477, 
484, 485, 
487, 488, 
489-491, 
563, 564, 



Isaiah — Ch. xlviii, xlix ; 

1, li; 

ii, xiv ; 
Matthew v, vi, vii ; 
Isaiah lii ; 

liv; 



Malachi iii ; 
1 Cor. xiii. 



292 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



truly teach unto the people ; but behold the plates of 
Nephi do contain the more fart of the things which 
he taught the people ; and these things have I writ- 
ten, which are a lesser part of the things which he 
taught the people ; and I have written them to the 
intent that they may be brought again unto this peo- 
ple, from the Gentiles, according to the words which 
Jesus hath spoken. And when they shall have re- 
ceived this, which is expedient that they should have 
first, to try their faith, and if it shall so he that they 
shall believe these things, then shall the greater 
things be made manifest unto them. And if it so he 
that they will not believe these things, then shall the 
greater things be withheld from them, unto their con- 
demnation. Behold I icere about to write them all 
which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but 
the Lord forhid it, saying, I will try the faith of my 
people ; therefore I, Mormon, do write the things 
which have been commanded me of the Lord." 

Perhaps it wall be said, that inasmuch as 
some of the prophecies quoted were written 
before the Nepliites left Jerusalem, and as their 
authors are acknow^ledged, it is reasonable to 
suppose that they were copied on the success- 
ive sets of plates ; an abridged edition of which 
was obtained by " the author and proprietor" of 
the Book of Mormon. 

We answer that the charge of plagiarism is 
founded, 1st. Upon the language used, the Eng- 
lish not having been in existence until subse- 
quently to the last date in the Book of Mormon. 
2d. Upon the translation^ which was first pub- 
lished in 1610, more than a thousand years 
after the death of Moroni, the finisher of the 



MORMONISM AXD THE MORMONS. 



293 



book, if it be genuine. This translation is fol- 
lowed not only in words, but also in the use of 
pauses and parentheses! E.g. Isa. lii, 14. The 
possibility of such an extensive and literal co- 
incidence honestly occurring in a translation 
from an unknown tongue, is an idea too absurd 
to mention. 

After the above examples of whole chapters 
taken from the common version of the Bible, it 
cannot be necessary to collate the numerous 
Scripture phrases which are made use of, with- 
out the shadow of acknowledgment, in every 
part of the Book of Mormon. 

The following are a few : — 

" By faith in the Son of God."—" He is the 
same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." — " How 
beautiful upon the mountains !" — " To be car- 
nally minded is death." — \Yars and rumours 
of wars." — " Must be born again." — "Gall of bit- 
terness and bonds of iniquity." — " Hewn down 
and cast into the fire." — " WhosoeA^er will come, 
may come, and partake of the waters of life 
freely." — " A flaming sw^ord, which turned every 
way, to keep the tree of life." — " O wretched 
man that I am !" 

In this connection we subjoin a brief exam- 
ple of the method in which another considera- 
ble portion of this work has been gotten up. It 
is neither more nor less than' a vile caricature 
of Scripture. 

" And it came to pass that when Jesus had made 
an end of praying unto the Father, he arose ; but so 
great was the joy of the multitude, that they were 



294 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

overcome. And it came to pass that Jesus spake 
unto them, and bade them arise. And they arose 
from the earth, and he said unto them. Blessed are 
ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy 
is full. And when he had said these words, he wept, 
and the multitude bear record of it, and he took their 
little children, one by one, and blessed them, and 
prayed unto the Father for them. And when he had 
done this he wept again, and he spake unto the mul- 
titude, and saith unto them, Behold your little ones. 
And as they looked to behold, they cast their eyes 
toward heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and 
they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were, 
in the midst of fire ; and they came down and encir- 
cled those little ones about, and they were encircled 
about with fire : and the angels did minister unto 
them, and the multitude did see, and hear, and bear 
record ; and they know that their record is true, for 
they all of them did see and hear, every man for him- 
self ; and they were in number about two thousand 
and five hundred souls ; and they did consist of men, 
women, and children. 

" And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his 
disciples that they should bring forth some bread and 
wine unto him. And while they were gone for bread 
and wine, he commanded the multitude that they 
should sit themselves down upon the earth. And 
when the disciples had come with bread and wine, 
he took of the bread, and brake and blessed it; and 
he gave unto the disciples, and commanded that they 
should eat. And when they had eat, and were filled, 
he commanded that they should give unto the multi- 
tude. And when the multitude had eaten and were 
filled, he said unto the disciples, Behold, there shall 
one be ordained among you, and to him will I give 
power that he shall break bread, and bless it, and 
give it unto the people of my church, unto all those 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 295 

who shall believe and be baptized in my name. And 
this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have 
done, even as I have broken bread, and blessed it, 
and gave it unto you. And this shall ye do in re- 
membrance of my body, which I have shown unto 
you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father, 
that ye do always remember me. And if ye do 
always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit to be 
with you." 

It is particularly remarkable that the inspired 
writers of the Bible never anticipated objec- 
tions that would be brought against their record. 
They uniformly proceeded in an open and un- 
deviating course, never attempting to save ap- 
pearances, or describing their message as re- 
ceived in any strange or incredible name. Not 
so the writer of the Book of Mormon. He was 
so intent upon maintaining the unnatural idea, 
that his book was made up from certain ancient 
records, that he keeps the plates jingling in our 
ears from one end of the volume to the other. 
Sometimes they are "brass," sometimes gold," 
" pure gold," or " like unto gold." At one time 
they are " sealed up," and " hid up ;" at another 
" dug up," translated, and abridged. The tales 
respecting them are ridiculous and self-contra- 
dictory. The follow^ing extracts will serve as 
a specimen : — 

" And now when my father saw all these things, 
[the plates brought from Jerusalem,] he was filled 
with the spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his 
seed : that these plates of brass should go forth unto 
all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people wlio were 



296 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

of his seed. Wherefore, he said that these plates of 
brass should never perish ; neither should they be 
dimmed any more by time. 

" And it came to pass that the Lord commanded 
me, wherefore I did make plates of ore, that I might 
eugrsiven upon them the record of my people. And 
upon the plates which I made, I did engraven the re- 
cord of my father, and also our journeyings in the 
wilderness, and the prophecies of my father ; and 
also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven 
upon them. And I knew^ not at the time when I 
made them, that I should be commanded of the Lord 
to make these plates ; wherefore, the record of my 
father, and the genealogy of his forefathers, and the 
more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness, 
are engraven upon those plates of which I have 
spoken ; wherefore, the things which transpired be- 
fore I made these plates, are, of a truth, more parti- 
cularly made mention upon the first plates. 

" And an account of my making these plates shall 
be given hereafter ; and then, behold, I proceed ac- 
cording to that which I have spoken, and this I do, 
that the more sacred things may be kept for the 
knowledge of my people. Nevertheless, I do not 
write any thing upon plates, save it be that / think 
it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they 
err of old. 

" Now King Mosiah had no one to confer the 
kingdom upon, for there was not any of his sons who 
would accept of the kingdom ; therefore he took the 
records which were engraven on the plates of brass, 
and also the plates of Nephi, and all the things which 
he had kept and preserved, according to the com- 
mandments of God, after having translated and 
caused to be written the records which were on the 
plates of gold, which had been found by the people 
of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 297 

of Limhi ; and this he did, because of the great anx- 
iety of his people, for they were desirous beyond 
measure, to know concerning those people who had 
been destroyed. And now he translated them by the 
means of those two stones which were fastened into 
the two rims of a bow. Now these things were pre- 
pared from the beginning, and were handed down 
generation to generation, for the purpose of interpret- 
ing languages ; and they have been kept and pre- 
served by the hand of the Lord, that he should dis- 
cover to every creature who should possess the land, 
the iniquities and abominations of his people ; and 
whosoever has these things is called seer, after the 
manner of old times. 

" Behold there are records which do contain all 
the proceedings of this people ; and a more short, 
but a true account, was given by Nephi : therefore 
I have made my record of these things according to 
the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the 
plates which were called the plates of Nephi. And 
behold I do make the record on plates which I have 
made with mine own hand. And behold, I am called 
Mormon. 

" And now I, Moroni, have written the words 
which were commanded me, according to my memo- 
ry ; and I have told you the things which I have 
sealed up : therefore touch them not, in order that 
ye may translate ; for that thing is forbidden you, 
except by and by it shall be wisdom in God. And 
behold, ye may be privileged that ye may shew the 
plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this 
work ; and unto three shall they be shown by the 
power of God : wherefore they shall know of a surety 
that these things are true." 



The following is the authorized account of 



298 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 

their situation, ancl condition, at the time of 
discovery : — 

" As you gp on the mail-road from Pahnyra, 
Wayne county, to Canandaigna, Ontario county, 
New-York, before arriving at the little village 
of Manchester, say from three to four, or about 
four miles from Palmyra, you pass a large hill 
on the east side of the road. Why I say large, 
is because it is as large, perhaps, as any in that 
country. 

" The north end rises quite suddenly, until 
it assumes a level with the more southerly ex- 
tremity ; and I think I may say, an elevation 
higher than at the south, a short distance, say 
half or three-fourths of a mile. As you pass 
toward Canandaigua, it lessens gradually, until 
the surface assumes its common level, or is 
broken by other smaller hills or ridges, water- 
courses, and ravines. I think I am justified in 
saying, that this is the highest hill for some 
distance round, and I am certain that its ap- 
pearance, as it rises so suddenly from a plain 
on the north, must attract the notice of the tra- 
veller as he passes by. 

" ' The north end,' which has been described 
as rising suddenly from the plain, forms ' a pro- 
montory without timber, but covered with grass.' 
As you pass to the south, you soon come to 
scattering timber, the surface having been clear- 
ed by art or wind, and a short distance further 
left, you are surrounded by the common forest 
of the country. It is necessary to observe, that 
even the part cleared, was only occupied for 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 299 

pasturage; its steep ascent, and narrow sum- 
mit, not admitting the plough of the husband- 
man, with any degree of ease or profit. It was 
at the second mentioned place, where the re- 
cord was found to be deposited, on the west 
side of the hill, not far from the top, down its 
side ; and when myself visited the place in the 
year 1830, there were several trees standing — 
enough to cause a shade in summer, but not so 
much as to prevent the surface being covered 
with grass — which was also the case when the 
record was first found. 

" How far below the surface these records 
were (anciently) placed, I am unable to say : 
but from the fact that they have been some 
fourteen hundred years buried, and that, too, on 
the side of a hill so steep, one is ready to con- 
clude, that they were some feet below, as the 
earth would naturally wear, more or less, in that 
length of time. But they, being placed toward 
the top of the hill, the ground would not remove 
as much as at two-thirds, perhaps. Another 
circumstance would prevent a wearing of the 
earth ; in all probability, as soon as timber had 
time to grow, the hill was covered, and the 
roots of the same would hold the surface. How- 
ever, on this point, I shall leave every man to 
draw his own conclusion, and form his own 
speculation. But suffice to say, a hole of suffi- 
cient depth was dug. At the bottom of this was 
laid a stone of suitable size, the upper surface 
being smooth. At each edge was placed a large 
quantity of cement, and into this cement, at the 



300 MORMOXISM AXD THE MORMONS. 



four edges of the stone, were placed erect four 
others ; their bottom edges resting in the ce- 
ment, at the outer edges of the first stone. The 
four last named, when placed erect, formed a 
box ; the corners, or where the edges of the 
four came in contact, were also cemented so 
firmly that the moisture from without was pre- 
vented from entering. It is to be observed, also, 
that the inner surface of the four erect or side 
stones were smooth. This box was sufficiently 
large to admit a breast-plate, such as was used 
by the ancients, to defend the chest, &c., from 
the arrows and weapons of their enemy. From 
the bottom of the box, or from the breast-plate, 
arose three small pillars, composed of the same 
description of cement used on the edges ; and 
' upon these three pillars were placed the re- 
cords.' 

" ' This box, containing the records, was 
covered with another stone, the bottom surface 
being flat, and the upper crowning.' When it 
was first visited by Mr. Smith, on the morning 
of the 22d of September, 1823, ' a part of the 
crowning stone was visible above the surface, 
while the edges were concealed by the soil and 
grass,' from which circumstance it maybe seen, 
'that however deep this box might have been 
placed at first, the time had been sufficient to 
wear the earth, so that it was easily discovered, 
when once directed, and yet, not enough to 
make a perceivable difiference to the passer-by.'* 

* How does this correspond with the repeated assertion, 
that they were " dug up from the bowels of the earth, ?" 



M0RM0XI5M AND THE MORMONS. 301 



After arriving at the repository, a little ex- 
ertion in removing the soil from the edges of 
the top of the box, and a light pry, brought to 
his vision its contents. 

" These records were engraved on plates, 
which had the appearance of gold. Each plate 
Avas not far from seven by eight inches in width 
and length, being not quite as thick as common 
tin. They were filled on both sides with en- 
gravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound 
together in a volume, as the leaves of a book, 
and fastened at one edge with three rings run- 
ning through the whole. This volume was 
something near six inches in thickness, a part 
of which was sealed. The characters or let- 
ters upon the unsealed part were small and 
beautifully engraved. The whole book exhi- 
bited many marks of antiquity in its construc- 
tion, as well as much skill in the art of engrav- 
ing. With the records was found ' a curious 
instrument, called by the ancients the Urim and 
Thummim, which consisted of two transparent 
stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of 
a bow. This was in use, in ancient times, by 
persons called seers. It was an instrument, by 
the use of which they received revelations of 
things distant, or of things past or future.' " 

There is no other particular in which the 
writer of the Book of Mormon actually mani- 
fests so much of the spirit of prophecy, as re- 
specting the objections his production would 
have to encounter. His contrivance to fore- 
stall said objections is detected in the bias- 



302 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



phemoiis imputation of the following, and much 
more similar language, to the Deity. 

''Wo be unto him that shall say, We have re- 
ceived the word of God, and we need no more of the 
word of God, for we have enough. 

" And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of 
the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are 
of the house of Israel. And because my words shall 
hiss forth, many of the Gentiles shall say, A Bible, 
a Bible, we have got a Bible, and there cannot be 
any more Bible. But thus saith the Lord God, O 
fools, they shall have a Bible ; and it shall proceed 
forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. 
And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which 
they receive from them 1 Yea, what do the Gentiles 
mean ? 

" But behold, I will return all these things upon 
your own heads : for I the Lord hath not forgotten 
my people. Thou fool, that shall say, A Bible, we 
have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have 
ye obtained a Bible, save it were by the Jews 1 

" And because that I have spoken one word, ye 
need not suppose that I cannot speak another ; for 
my work is not yet finished ; neither shall it be, until 
the end of man ; neither from that time henceforth 
and for ever. 

" Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible, ye need 
not suppose that it contains all my words ; neither 
need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be 
written : for I command all men, both in the east, and 
in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in 
the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words 
which I speak unto them." 

In view of the above extracts, the reader can 
determine how much either of honesty or of 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMOx\S. 303 

consistency there is iii the Mormons now say- 
ing that they are misrepresented and persecuted 
when their book is called the Mormon Bible. 
That it was written and published as such, its 
own text proves ; and to deny this, as is now 
generally done, is a departure from truth. 

It is generally known that the story respect- 
inor the orio^in of this book was contrived with 
reference to the expressions of Isaiah xxix, 11, 
respecting the vision which had become as the 
words of a book. Thus its coming forth" is 
urged to be a fulfilment of Scripture prophecy. 
The Mormon caricature of that prophecy is 
found in the second book of Nephi, and reads 
as follows : — 

" And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall 
bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they 
shall be the words of them which have slumbered. 
And behold, the book shall be sealed ; and in the book 
shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of 
the world, to the ending thereof. Wherefore, because 
of the things which are sealed up, the things which 
are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the 
wickedness and abominations of the people. Where- 
fore the book shall be kept from them. But the book 
shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the 
words of the book, which are the words of those who 
have slumbered in the dust ; and he shall deliver 
these words unto another ; but the words which are 
sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver 
the book. 

" Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be 
delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the 
book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the 
eyes of none shall behold it, save it bo that three wit- 



304 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



nssses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides 
him to whom the book shall be delivered ; and they 
shall testify to the truth of the book, and the things 
therein. And there is none other which shall view 
it, save it he a few^ according to the will of God, 
to bear testimony of his word unto the children of 
men. 

" But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord 
God shall say unto him to w^hom he shall deliver the 
book, Take these words which are not sealed, and 
deliver them to another, that he may shew^ them unto 
the learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee. And the 
learned shall say, Bring hither the book, and I will 
read them : and now^, because of the glory of the 
world, and to get gain, will they say this, and not for 
the glory of God. And the man shall say, I cannot 
bring the book, for it is sealed. Then shall the learn- 
ed say, 1 caimot read it. Wherefore, it shall come 
to pass that the Lord God will deliver again the book, 
and the w^ords thereof, to him that is not learned ; 
and the man that is not learned shall say, I am not 
learned. Then shall the Lord God say unto him, 
The learned shall not read them, for they have re- 
jected them, and I am able to do mine own work; 
wherefore, thou shalt read the words which I shall 
give unto thee." 

AVe have hitherto omitted to mention, that 
while the Golden Bible was in process of fabri- 
cation, Martin Harris was sent to New-York 
to present a scrawl of singular marks to certain 
learned gentlemen of that city. As these marks 
meant nothing, of course they could not be read ; 
so they were carried back to the man that w^as 
not learned. 

Out of this circumstance a story was framed, 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 305 

very plausible to those ignorant of its falsity, 
and which has been diligently used, up to this 
day, in making proselytes to Mormonism. What 
can be clearer proof of a disposition to deceive, 
at the expense of every semblance of truth, 
than to persist in asserting, as the Mormon 
teachers do, that the prophecy of Isaiah was 
literally fulfilled in the origin of the book be- 
fore us ? 

The following letter of Dr. Anthon explains 
itself, and the points under consideration. 

''New-York, Feb. 17, 1834. 

The whole story about my having pronounced 
the Mormonite inscription to be ' reformed Egyptian 
hieroglyphics' is perfectly false. Some years ago, 
a plain, and, apparently, simple-hearted farmer, call- 
ed upon me, with a note from Dr. Mitchell, of our 
city, now deceased, requesting me to decipher, if 
possible, a paper which the farmer would hand me, 
and which Dr. M. confessed he had been unable to 
understand. Upon examining the paper in question, 
I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick, 
perhaps a hoax. When I asked the person, who 
brought it, how he obtained the writing, he gave me, 
as far as I can now recollect, the io\]<swmg account : — 
A ' gold book,' consisting of a number of plates of 
gold, fastened together in the shape of a book by 
wires of the same metal, had been dug up in the 
northern part of the state of New- York, and, along 
with the book, an enormous pair of ^ gold specta- 
cles V These spectacles were so large, that if a per- 
son attempted to look through them, his two eyes would 
have to be turned toward one of the glasses merely, 
the spectacles in question being altogether too large 
for the breadth of the human face. Whoever ex- 
20 



306 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS* 



aminedthe plates through the spectacles was enabled 
not only to read them, but fully to understand their 
meaning. All this knowledge, however, was con- 
fined at that time to a young man who had the trunk, 
containing the book and spectacles, in his sole pos- 
session. This young man was placed behind a cur- 
tain, in the garret of a farm-house, and, being thus 
concealed from view, put on the spectacles occasion- 
ally, or rather looked through one of the glasses, 
deciphered the characters in the book, and, having 
committed some of them to paper, handed copies from 
behind the curtain to those who stood on the outside. 
Not a word, however, was said about the plates hav- 
ing been deciphered ' by the gift of God.' Every 
thing, in this way, was effected by the large pair of 
spectacles. The farmer added, that he had been re- 
quested to contribute a sum of money toward the pub- 
lication of the * golden book,' the contents of which 
would, as he had been assured, produce an entire 
change in the world, and save it from ruin. So 
urgent had been these solicitations, that he intended 
selling his farm, and handing over the amount re- 
ceived to those who wished to publish the plates. 
As a last precautionary step, however, he had re- 
solved to come to New- York, and obtain the opinion 
of the learned about the meaning of the paper which 
he brought with him, and which had been given him 
as a part of the contents of the book, although no 
translation had been furnished at the time by the 
young man with the spectacles. On hearing this odd 
story, I changed my opinion about the paper, and, 
instead of viewing it any longer as a hoax upon the 
learned, I began to regard it as part of a scheme to 
cheat the farmer of his money, and I communicated 
my suspicions to him, warning him to beware of 
rogues. He requested an opinion from me in writ- 
ing, which of course I declined giving, and he then 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



307 



tuok his leave, carrying the paper with him. This 
j)aper was, in fact, a singular scrawl. It consisted 
of all kinds of crooked characters, disposed in co- 
lumns, and had evidently been prepared by some 
person who had before him, at the time, a book con- 
taining various alphabets. Greek and Hebrew let- 
ters, crosses and flourishes, Roman letters inverted 
or placed sideways, were arranged in perpendicular 
columns, and the w^hole ended in a rude delineation 
of a circle divided into various compartments, decked 
with various strange marks, and evidently copied 
after the Mexican calendar, given by Humboldt, but 
copied in such a way as not to betray the source 
whence it was derived. I am thus particular, as to 
the contents of the paper, inasmuch as I have fre- 
quently conversed with my friends on the subject, 
since the Mormonite excitement began, and well re- 
member that the paper contained any thing else but 
^Egyptian hieroglyphics.^ Some time after, the 
farmer paid me a second visit. He brought with 
him the golden book in print, and offered it to me for 
sale. I declined purchasing. He then asked per- 
mission to leave the book with me for examination. 
I declined receiving it, although his manner was 
strangely urgent. I adverted once more to the 
roguery which had been, in my opinion, practised 
upon him, and asked him what had become of the 
gold plates. He informed me that they were in a 
trunk with the large pair of spectacles. I advised 
him to go to a magistrate, and have the trunk exa- 
mined. He said the ' curse of God' would come 
upon him should he do this. On my pressing him, 
however, to pursue the course which I had recom- 
mended, he told me that he would open the trunk, if 
I would take the * curse of God' upon myself. I 
replied that I would do so with the greatest willing- 
ness, and would incur every risk of that nature, pro- 



308 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS, 



vided I could only extricate him from the grasp of 
rogues. He then left me. 

" I have thus given you a full statement of all that 
I know respecting the origin of Mormonism, and 
must beg you, as a personal favour, to publish this 
letter immediately, should you find my name men- 
tioned again by these wretched fanatics. Yours re- 
spectfully, Charles Anthon." 

We had designed to notice various other 
topics, involving inconsistencies equal to those 
we have already pointed out, and possibly still 
more palpable. We must now, however, close 
this review with two extracts, showing that the 
Book of Mormon bears the broad impress of 
Campbellism, which is not yet quite fourteen 
hundred years old ! 

In it immersion for the remission of sins is 
represented as having been practised long pre- 
vious to the Christian era. 

It gives, moreover, the following account of 
the institution of the rite of immersion at the 
epoch of Christ's personal appearance to the 
Nephites. 

" And he said unto them, On this wise shall ye 
baptize ; and there shall be no disputations among 
you. Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth 
of his sins through your words, and desireth to be 
baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize 
them : behold, ye shall go down and stand in the 
water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. And 
now behold, these are the v^ords which ye shall say, 
calling them by name, saying, Having authority 
given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 



MORMONISM AND THE xMORMONS. 



309 



Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the 
water, and come forth again out of the water." 

It again treats expressly upon the wicked- 
ness of infant baptism. 

" And after this manner did the Holy Ghost mani- 
fest the word of God unto me ; wherefore, my be- 
loved son, I know^ that it is solemn mockery before 
God, that ye should baptize little children. Behold, 
I say unto you, that this thing shall ye teach, repent- 
ance and baptism unto those who are accountable 
and capable of committing sin ; yea, teach parents 
that they must repent and be baptized, and humble 
themselves as their little children, and they shall all 
be saved with their little children : and their little 
children need no repentance, neither baptism. Be- 
hold, baptism is unto repentance, to the fulfilling the 
commandments, unto the remission of sins. But 
little children are alive in Christ, even from the 
foundation of the world ; if not so, God is a partial 
God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to 
persons ; for how many little children have died 
without baptism. Wherefore, if little children could 
not be saved without baptism, these must have gone 
to an endless hell. Behold, I*say unto you, that he 
that supposeth that little children need baptism, is in 
the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity ; 
for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity ; where- 
fore, should he be cut oiF while in the thought, he 
must go down to hell. For awful is the wickedness 
to suppose that God saveth one child because of bap- 
tism, and the other must perish because he hath no 
baptism. Wo be unto him that shall pervert the 
ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall 
perish, except they repent. Behold, I speak with 
boldness, having authority from God ; and I fear not 
what man can do, for perfect love castelh out all 



310 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 

fear ; and I am lilled with charity^ which is ever^ 
lasting love ; wherefore, all children are alike unto 
me ; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect 
love; and they are all alike, and partakers of salva- 
tion. For I know that God is not a partial God, 
neither a changeable being ; but he is unchangeable 
from all eternity to all eternity. Little children 
cannot repent ; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to 
deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they 
are all alive in him because of his mercy. And he 
that saith that little children need baptism, denieth 
the me7xies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atone- 
ment of him, and the power of his redemption. Wo 
unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and 
an endless torment. I speak it boldly — God hath 
commanded me." 

We presume no intelligent advocate for im- 
mersion, or respectable opponent to infant bap- 
tism, will be in the least grateful for the authority 
thus furnished in favour of his sentiments. 

We now take leave of the Book of Mormon. 
If any one desires to learn more of its absurdi- 
ties than we have exposed, we refer him to the 
book itself, where lie cannot fail to be satisfied. 
It does not contain a single statement which 
can be verified by Mr. Leslie's celebrated rules 
for determining matters of fact. On the con- 
trary, its whole narrative is an outrage on com- 
mon sense, interwoven with tasteless but sanc- 
timonious declamation, ad captandum vulgus. 
Nevertheless, it is probably the most successful 
attempt ever made to counterfeit a divine reve- 
lation. As such, it affords a lesson even to the 
infidel. From it he may learn the impossi- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 311 

bility of imposing deception, upon its own 
grounds, on any considerable portion of man- 
kind. We have exposed many of the tricks, 
and alluded to the general system of duplicity 
by which Mormonism has thus far been propa- 
gated. 

Probably in the whole history of the delusion 
there never has occurred a single instance of a 
frank development of their peculiar tenets be- 
fore an uninitiated audience. The elders are 
expressly instructed not to declare any thing 
more than the first principles to those who are 
Uiibelievers, " leaving the further mysteries of 
the kingdom" until afterward. 

It is not an uncommon tiling to see handbills 
posted up in our streets, setting forth various 
items about the fulness of the gospel, and pro- 
mising to gratify the curiosity generally felt 
know what the Latter-day Saints do bomm?e. 
When they can thus collect an assen'ibly, the 
first endeavour of the Mormons is to establish 
themselves on a parallel with Christians, as 
believers in the Bible, and its cardinal doctrines. 
They are then ready to flourish upon any topic 
which may be most popular, at the same time 
hinting that great mysteries are to be revealed 
further on. 

That the reader may be thoroughly furnished 
with this scheme of duplicity, we give below 
their publicly professed creed, in comparison 
with other doctrines and precepts maintained 
with equal strenuousness by them, but generally 
held in reserve for a " convenient season." 



312 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS'. 



Their own authorized publications constitute 
our authority in both cases, with the exception 
of a few extracts from Mr. Corrill : — 



SHOW OF CHRISTIANITY. 

1. "The * Latter-day 
Saints' believe in the true 
and living God, and in Jesus 
Christ, the Son of God, who 
was crucified according to 
the Scriptures, and who rose 
from the dead the third day, 
and is now seated at the 
right hand of God as a me- 
diator." 

2. "We also believe in 
the Holy Scriptures of the 
prophets and apostles, as 
being profitable for doctrine, 
reproof, correction, and in- 
struction in righteousness, 

'"hus tS^^ mysticism 
Oi „ ^' e interpretation of 
them ougfit to be done away. 
The Scil'^:)tures should be 
taught, understood, and 
practised in their most plain, 
simple, easy, and literal 
sense, according to the com- 
mon laws and usage of the 
language in which they 
stand ; according to the le- 
gitimate meaning of words 
and sentences, precisely the 
same as if found in any other 
book." 

3. "We hold it as the 
duty of all men to believe 
the gospel, to repent of their 
sins, and to be immersed in 



MORMONISM PROPER. 

1. "We worship a God 
who has both body and 
parts." — "Matter is eternal, 
uncreated, and self-exist- 
ing." — " It is impossible for 
God to originate matter from 
nonentity;" that is, to cre- 
ate a world. 



2. " We testify our faith 
in immediate revelation from 
God, and the administration 
of angels." These immedi- 
ate revelations come through 
Joseph Smith. " They es- 
teem the law of God, as 
given through their prophet, 

VASTLY SUPERIOR TO ANY 
OTHER LAW." CoTrill 



3. " If this building [the 
Nauvoo temple] is not com- 
pleted SPEEDILY, we shall 
be rejected as a church, with 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



water in the name of Jesus 

Christ FOR REMISSION OF 

SINS. And we hold, that all 
who do this in a proper man- 
ner, and under proper autho- 
rity, are legally entitled to 
the remission of sins, and 
to the gift of the Holy Ghost, 
according to the Scriptures." 

4. " Infant baptism is of 
no use." — "It is solemn 
mockery before God." — 
"Awful wickedness."— jBooA- 
of Mormon. 



5. "The 'Latter-day 
Saints,' after immersion, lay 
on hands in the name of Je- 
sus Christ for the gift of the 
Holy Ghost, according to 
the ancient pattern. They 
are then considered saints, 
or members of the church 
of Christ, in full fellowship 

and communion." "We 

believe that the church of 
Christ should be organized 
according to the New Tes- 
tament pattern." 



6. " As to the signs of 
the times, we believe that 
the gathering of Israel, and 
the second advent of Messi- 



313 

our dead, for the Lord our 
God hath spoken it." — "In- 
dividuals come under the 
same condemnation." — Ejp. 
of the Twelve, 



4. " The members of the 
church are required to bring 
their children under eight 
years old into meeting, and 
have the elders lay hands 
on and bless them." When 
the children are eight years 
old, it is the duty of parents 
to have them baptized into 
the church. 

5. " We wish it to be un- 
derstood distinctly, that the 
organization of this church 
came by express command- 
ment and revelation from 
the Almighty." In the fol- 
lowing order, viz. : The 
Melchizedek priesthood, in- 
cluding the first presidency 
and high council of Zion. 
2. The Aaronic priesthood, 
in which are embraced the 
travelling high council, the 
quorum of the seventy eld- 
ers, &c., cScc. — Book of 
Mormon and Book of Doc- 
trines and Covenants. 

6. " Lieutenant General 
Joseph Smith desires all 
HIS FRIENDS to attach them- 
selves to some compar^y, 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



314 

ah, with all the great events 
connected therewith, are 
near at hand. That it is 
time for the saints to ga- 
ther together, and prepare 
for the same." 

7. " We have implicit 
confidence in the ' Book of 
Mormon,' not, however, as 
a new Bible to exclude the 
old, as some have falsely 
represented. We consider 
the ' Book of Mormon' as a 
historical and religious re- 
cord, written in ancient 
times by a branch of the 
house of Israel, who peopled 
America, and from whom 
the Indians are descended. 
The ' Book of Mormon' cor- 
roborates and confirms the 
truth of the Scriptures, by 
showing that the same prin- 
ciples were revealed and 
enjoyed in a country and 
among a people far remote 
from the scenes where the 
Jewish Bible was written." 



either in the first or second 

COHORT of the NAUVOO LE- 
GION". This will enable them 
to receive correct mili- 
tary INSTRUCTION.'" 

7. " Behold they [the pro- 
phecies of the Book of Mor- 
mon] shall proceed forth 
out of the mouth of the 
everlasting God ; and his 
word shall hiss forth from 
generation to generation. 
And God shall show unto 
you that what I have written 
is true." — Moroni. 

" fools ! they shall have 
a Bible ; and it shall proceed 
forth from the Jews, mine 
ancient covenant people." 
— Nephi. 

Those that harden their 
hearts m unbelief, and reject 
it, it shall turn to their own 
condemnation." — Doct. and 
Covenants. 



It appears from the Mormon newspaper, that 
some of the elders from time to time have been 
disposed to carry out to their proper results the 
theological principles they had imbibed. Un- 
happily, a veto was placed upon their investi- 
gations, lest the whole fabric of deception should 
be overthrown. Witness the following charge 
of the twelve to the elders at large: — 

" We have heard of some foolish vagaries, 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMOXS, 315 



and wild speculations, originating only in a 



by some, telling what occupation they had 
before they came into this world, and what 
they would be employed with after they leave 
this state of existence ; those, and other 
vain imaginations, we would warn the elders 
against, because if they listen to such things, 
they will fall into the snare of the devil, and 
when the tr^'ing time comes, they will be over- 
thrown." 

The prophet has on several occasions been 
obliged to use all his tact and talent, in order 
to put down rivalry. Nor is it w^onderful that 
so great a man should have imitators, and that 
his success in getting up revelations should 
inspire his followers with a desire to walk in 
his footsteps. Had Smith been present at the 
conference, the minutes of which are subjoined, 
the accused might with great propriety have 
addressed to him the words of the pirate to 
Alexander the Great : " Sir, there is no differ- 
ence between us, but in the name and the means 
of doing mischief" 

" At a conference meeting of the branch of 
the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 
in the city of New-York, held at the house of 
Elder G. J. Adams, agreeably to previous ap- 
pointment, on the evening of Dec. 4th, 1840; 
Elder Orson Hyde was unanimously chosen 
chairman of the meeting, and Elder L. R. Fos- 
ter, clerk. 

The meeting was opened by singing, ' Guide 



disordered imagination, which 




forth 



31 G MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



US, O thou great Jehovah,' &c., and by the pre- 
sident addressing the throne of grace. 

" The president then read from Rev. ii, 12, 
and onward. After a few preliminary remarks, 
the president proceeded to give his reasons for 
believing that the spirit which had been mani- 
fested among us, since the coming of Elder Sid- 
ney Roberts, was not from the Lord. 

" The items objected to are, having a reve- 
lation that a certain brother must give him a 
suit of clothes, and a gold watch, the best that 
could be had ; also, saluting the sisters with 
what he calls a holy kiss, taking them on his 
lap, and putting his arms around them, &c. 

" The accused, Sidney Roberts, answered 
for himself ; he spoke at some length, and at- 
tempted to justify himself concerning these 
things. After remarks by several brethren, the 
president proposed that if he would confess his 
transgressions, he might retain his membership, 
but that his license must be demanded. He 
arose and stated, that he knew the revelations 
which he had spoken, were from God, and that 
he had no confession to make ; whereupon, the 
conference cut him off from the church, and 
demanded his license, which he refused to 
give up." 

There is scarcely any feature of Mormonism 
more heart-sickening than the tyranny which 
it succeeds in maintaining over all who become 
its victims. So long as the saints are obedient 
to the mandates of the prophet and his cabinet, 
all goes on well. A departure from such course > 



MORMOXISM AXD THE MORMONS. 



317 



by presuming to think or to act for themselves, 
brings down upon them maledictions which 
they seem to dread worse than the very curses 
of Heaven. What degradation could be more 
abject than that of W. W. Phelps, as repre- 
sented in the following extracts. He had been 
for years one of the most active and efficient 
promoters of Mormonism.but having, as it would 
appear, come back for a season to be influenced 
either by reason or by conscience, he had ab- 
jured the system. If this w^as not the head and 
front of his offending, certainly no more is spe- 
cified below : — 

" Dayton, Ohio, June 29, 1840. 
" Brother Joseph, — T am alive, and with 
the help of God, I mean to live still. I am as 
a prodigal son, though I never doubt or disbe- 
lieve the fulness of the gospel : I have been 
greatly abased and humbled : and I blessed the 
God of Israel, when I lately read your prophetic 
blessing on my head, as follow^s : ' The Lord 
will chasten him, because he taketh honour to 
himself, and w^hen his soul is greatly humbled, 
he will forsake the evil, then shall the light of 
the Lord break upon him, as at noon-day, and 
in him shall be no darkness,' &c. I have seen 
the folly of my way, and I tremble at the gulf 
I have passed : so it is, and why I know not. 
I prayed, and God answered, but w^hat could I 
do ? Says I, I will repent and live, and ask 
my old brethren to forgive me, and though they 
chasten one to death, yet / tcill die w^ith them, 
for their God is my God. The least place with 



S18 MORMONISM AND THE MORMOxVS. 

them is enough for me ; yea, it is larger and 
better than all Babylon. 

" I know my situation, you know it, and God 
knows it, and I want to be saved, if my friends 
will help me. Like the captain that was cast 
away on a desert island, when he got off he 
went to sea again, and made his fortune the 
next time. So let my lot be. I have done 
wrong, and I am sorry. The beam is in my 
own eye. I have not walked with my friends 
according to my holy anointing. I ask forgive- 
ness in the name of Jesus Christ of all the saints, 
for I will do right, God helping me. I Avant 
your fellowship : if you cannot grant that, grant 
me your peace and friendship, for we are bre- 
thren, and our communion used to be sweet. 
And whenever the Lord brings us together 
again, / will make all the satisfaction on every 
•point that saints or God can require. Amen. 

" W. W. Phelps. 

"To presidents Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, 
Sidney Rigdon, &c." 

. "Dear Brethren, — Brother Phelps requests 
us to write a few lines in his letter, and we 
cheerfully embrace the opportunity. Brother 
Phelps says he wants to live, and we want he 
should live : but we do not feel ourselves au- 
thorized to act upon his case, but have recom- 
mended him to you ; but he says that his poverty 
will not allow him to visit you in person at this 
time, and we .think he tells the truth. We there- 
fore advised him to write, which he has done. 



MORMOXISM AND THE MORMONS. 



319 



He tells us, verbally, that he is willing to make 
any sacrifice to procure your fellowship, life not 
excepted ; yet reposing that confidence in your 
magnanimity, that you will take no advantage 
of his open and frank confession. If he can 
obtain your fellowship, he wants to come to 
Commerce as soon as he can. But if he can- 
not be received into the fellow^ship of the church, 
he must do the best he can in banishment and 
exile. 

*' Brethren, with you are the keys of the king- 
dom: to you is power given to * exert your cle- 
mency, or display your vengeance.' By the 
former you will save a soul from death, and hide 
a multitude of sins : by the latter you will for 
ever discourage a returning prodigal, cause sor- 
row without benefit, pain without pleasure, end- 
ing in wretchedness and despair. 

" But former experience teaches that you are 
workmen in the art of saving men : therefore, 
with the greatest confidence, do we recommend 
to your clemency and favourable consideration 
the author and subject of this communication. 

^' In the bonds of the covenant, 

" O. Hyde, 
"J. E. Page." 

If any additional proof were needed to show 
that Mormonism is a sheer delusion, it would 
be amply furnished in the experience of the 
many who have renounced it as such, including 
a majority of the original witnesses to the Book 
of Mormon, notwithstanding all the obstacles 



320 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

thrown in their way. Without alluding to 
others, it may be mentioned that Oliver Cowde- 
ry, the confidential scribe of Smith while get- 
ting up the Book of Mormon, one of the three 
witnesses, the first convert and the first apostle 
of Mormonism, has long since withdrawn him- 
self from the whole concern. Thereby he has 
given to the world a virtual acknowledgment 
that he had been made the tool of desi^ninjE^ 
and wicked men. 

If this circumstance had been his misfortune 
merely, and not his fault, he w^ould probably 
have taken his leave of the prophet on the issue 
of the following REVELATION, given April, 1829, 
to Oliver Cowdery : — " Behold you have not 
understood ; you have supposed that I must 
give it [the translation of the golden plates] 
unto you, when you take no thought, save it 
were to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, 
that you must study it out in your mind ; that 
you must ask me if it be right ; and if it is right, 
I will cause your hosom shall hum within you ; 
then you shall /ee/ that it is right. But if it be 
not right, you shall not have such feelings ; but 
then shall have a stupor of thought^ that shall 
cause you to forget those things which are 
wrong." — Doct. and Cov., sec. 35. 

He, however, went on for a series of years, 
like the ship of Nephi, driven before the wind 
toward the promised land. But never arriving 
to the promised land, he at length abandoned 
his course in despair or disgust. Yet the poor 
Mormons refuse to be instructed by his exam- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 321 

pie, and to shake off their fetters. Listen to one 
of their poets. 

Amazed with wonder I I look round, 

To see most people of our day 
Reject the glorious gospel sound, 

Because the simple turn away : 
But does it prove there is no time, 

Because some watches will not gol 

■X--Sf--X- 

Or prove that Christ was not the Lord, 
Because that Peter cursed and swore, 

Or Book of Mormon not his word, 
Because denied by Oliver'? 

Or prove that Joseph Smith is false, 
Because apostates say 'tis so 1 

**^f **■)(• 

O no ! the wise will surely say, 

No proof unto the man that's wise ; 

Then O ! dig deep ye loise to-day ; 
And soon the truth will be your prize. 

Not like the fool who chanced to see 
The SAINT forsake his heavenly course, 

And turn to sin and vanity, 

Then cries, " Your scheme is all a farceV 

Wonder if they would believe Joseph Smith 
himself if he should at length tell them, as he 
did Mr. Ingersoll in the outset, that it was all 

to see what the d d fools would believe 

P. P. Pratt remarks in his last letter, that the 
saints would rather be slaves in America than 
starve in England : hence " go they will, and 
go they must, or perish." This is truly a 
lamentable alternative. But in it we see no 
21 



322 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



reason why freeborn Americans should be will- 
ingly enslaved. Yet that many are sOj in the 
worst sense, is evident from the following ex- 
tracts of an Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints 
of the Last Days :— 

" The children of Israel were commanded to 
build a house in the land of promise ; and so 
are the saints of the last days, as you will see 
in the revelation given to JOSEPH [SMITH] 
the SEER, Jan. 19th, 1841, wherein those or- 
dinances may be revealed which have been hid 
for ages, even their anointings, and washings, 
and baptisms for the dead ; wherein they may 
meet in solemn assemblies for their memorials, 
sacrifices, and oracles, in their most holy places ; 
and wherein they may receive conversations, 
and statutes, and judgments, for the beginning 
of the revelations and foundations of Zion, and 
the glory, and honour, and adornment of all her 
municiples^ through the medium which God hath 
ordained. 

" In the same revelation the command is to 
' all the saints from afar^ as well as those al- 
ready gathered to this place, to arise with one 
consent and build the temple ; to prepare a 
place where the Most High may manifest him- 
self to his people. No one is excepted wlio hath 
aught in his possession, for what have ye that ye 
have not received ? and I will require mine own 
with usury, saith the Lord ; so that those who 
live thousands of miles from this place, come 
under the same law, and are entitled to the same 
blessings and privileges as those who have al- 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 323 

ready gathered. But some may say, How can 
this be, I am not there, therefore I cannot meet 
in the temple— cannot be baptized in the font? 
The command of heaven is to you, to all, gather : 
and when you arrive here, if it is found that 
you have previously sent up of your gold, or 
your silver, or your substance, the tithings and 
consecrations which are required of you for this 
building, you will find your names, tithings, and 
consecrations written in the book of the law of 
the Lord, to be kept in the temple, as a witness 
in your favour, showing that you are a propri- 
etor in that building, and are entitled to your 
share of the privileges thereunto belonging. 

" One of those privileges, which is particu- 
larly attracting the notice of the saints at the 
present moment, is baptism for the dead, &c., 
in the font, which is so far completed as to be 
dedicated, and several have already attended 
to this ordinance, by which the sick have been 
made whole, and the prisoner set free ; but 
while we have been called to administer this 
ordinance, we have been led to inquire into the 
propriety of baptizing those who have not been 
obedient, and assisted to build the place for 
baptism, and it seems to us unreasonable to ex- 
pect that the great Jehovah will approbate such 
an administration ; for if the church must be 
brought under condemnation, and rejected with 
her dead, if she fail to build the house, and its 
appurtenances, why should not individuals of 
the church, who thus neglect, come under the 
same condemnation? And if they are to be re- 



324 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



jected, they may as well be rejected without 
baptism as with^ for their baptism can be of no 
avail before Gody and the time to baptize them 
may be appropriated to building the walls of 
the house, and this is according to the under- 
standing which we hare received from him who 
is our spokesman. 

" Large stores of provisions will be required 
to complete the work, and now is the time for 
securing it, while meat is plenty, and can be 
had for one half the value that it can at other 
seasons of the year, and the weather is cool and 
suitable for packing. Let the brethren, for two 
hundred miles around, drive their fat cattle and 
hogs to this place, where they may be preserved, 
and there will be a supply till another favoura- 
ble season rolls round, or till the end of the 
labour. Now is the time to secure food. Now 
is the time that the trustee is ready to receive 
your droves. Not the maimed, the lean, the 
halt, and the blind, and such that you cannot 
use ; it is for the Lord, and he wants no such 
offering : but if you want his blessing, give him 
the best ; give him as good as he has given 
you. Beds and bedding, socks, mittens, shoes, 
clothing of every description, and store-goods 
are needed for the comfort of the labourers this 
winter ; journeymen stonecutters, quarrymen, 
teams and teamsters for drawing stone, and all 
kinds of provision, for men and beast, are need- 
ed in abundance. 

" All money and other property, designed for 
tithings and consecrations to the building of the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 325 

temple, must hereafter be presented to the trus- 
tee in trust, President JOSEPH SMITH, and 
entered at the recorder's office, in the book be- 
fore referred to. 

" The elders, everywhere, will instruct the 
brethren, both in public and in private, in the 
principles and doctrines set forth in this epis- 
tle, so that every individual of the church may 
have a perfect understanding of his duty and 
privilege. 

" Nauvoo, Illinois, Dec. 13th, 1841." 

If many of these saints and brethren do not 
ultimately get their eyes opened, it v^ill be be- 
cause trickery cannot be sufficiently palpable, 
or inconsistency gross enough to reveal to them 
the true character of their spiritual guides. 
Look, for example, at the following proceed- 
ings with reference to Kirtland. 

Minutes of the general conference of the 
church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 
held in Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, Oct. 
3d, 1840. 

" The president then rose, and stated that it 
was necessary that som.ething should be done 
with regard to Kirtland, so that it might be built 
up ; and gave it as his opinion that the brethren 
from the east might gather there, and also that 
it was necessary that some one should be ap- 
pointed from this conference to preside over 
that stake. 

"On motion, resolved, that Elder A. Babbitt 
be appointed to preside over the church in Kirt- 
land, and that he choose his own counsellors." 



326 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

Mr. Babbitt, it appears, went forward in dis- 
charge of the duties assigned him like a tho- 
rough-going man, and reported progress in the 
minutes of a conference held at Kirtland, Octo- 
ber, 1842. 

These minutes exhibit as much of devotion 
to the cause, and of enlightened measures for 
its promotion, as any that can be found on re- 
cord in the Times and Seasons. Among the 
resolutions passed in said conference were 
those to the following effect : — 

1. To be more careful in the selection of 
competent elders to preach the gospel in cities 
and towns of notoriety. 

2. To establish a Mormon press at Kirtland, 
and to publish a periodical. 

3. To aid the poor, and to purchase a horse 
and wagon for the use of the bishop in gather- 
ing for and distributing to them ; also assigning 
to him some assistance in the work. 

Yet all these proceedings are reprobated 
without mercy in the following courteous pro- 
clamation. 

" All the saints that dwell in that land are 
commanded to come away, for this is, ' Thus 
saith the Lord ;' therefore pay out no moneys 
nor properties for houses, nor lands, in that 
country, for if you do you will lose them ; for 
the time shall come that you shall not possess 
them in peace, but shall be scourged with a sore 
scourge ; yet your children may possess them, 
but not until many years shall pass away ; and 
as to the organization of that branch of the 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 327 

church, it is not according to the Spirit and 
will of God ; and as to the designs of the lead- 
ing members of that branch relative to the print- 
ing press, and the ordaining of elders, and 
sending out elders to beg for the poor, are not 
according to the will of God ; and in these 
things they shall not prosper, for they have 
neglected the house of the Lord, the baptismal 
font, in this place, wherein their dead may be 
redeemed, and the key of knowledge, that un- 
folds the dispensation of the fulness of times, 
may be turned, and the mysteries of God be 
unfolded, upon which their salvation, and the 
salvation of the world, and the redemption of 
their dead depends, for thus saith the Lord, 
' There shall not be a general assembly for a 
general conference assembled together until the 
house of the Lord shall be finished, and the 
baptismal font, and, if we are not diligent, the 
church shall be rejected, and their dead also, 
saith the Lord' therefore any proceedings other- 
wise than to put forth their hands with their 
might to do this work, is not according to the 
will of God, and shall not prosper ; therefore 
tarry not in any place whatever, but come forth 
unto this place from all the world, until it is 
filled up, and polished, and sanctified according 
to my word, saith the Lord ; come ye forth from 
the ends of the earth, that I may hide you from 
mine indignation that shall scourge the wicked, 
and then I will send forth and build up Kirtland, 
and it shall be polished and refined, according 
to my word ; therefore your doings, and your 



328 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

organizations, and designs in printing, or any 
of your councils, are not of me, saith the Lord, 
even so, Amen. 

" Hyrum Smith, patriarch 

for the whole church.''^ 
Respecting the general prerogatives of the 
" patriarch of the whole church," some intelli- 
gence is given in the following official announce- 
ment. 

" The brethren are hereby notified, that our 
well-beloved brother, Hyrum Smith, patriarch 
of the church, has erected a comfortable office, 
opposite his dwelling house, where himself, 
together with his scribe and recorder, (James 
Sloan,) will attend regularly every Monday, 
Wednesday, and Friday, during the entire day, 
or upon any other day, if urgent circumstances 
require it, to perform the duties of his high and 
holy calling. 

"A copy of the blessings can be received 
immediately after being pronounced, so that the 
brethren who live at a distance can have it to 
take with them." 

Similar proceedings are had on the other side 
of the Atlantic, as stated by J. Blakeslee, one 
of the elders. 

" I attended several blessing meetings while 
I was in Liverpool, in company with Elders 
Brigham Young, John Taylor, and Willard 
Richards, and others, which was a great satis- 
faction to me. Those meetings were attended 
as follows : — A feast was prepared at a private 
house, and several brethren invited to attend, 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 329 

and after refreshment the meeting was opened 
by singing and prayer ; then the patriarch 
(Elder Peter Mellen) laid his hands on the head 
of a brother or sister, as the case might be, and 
pronounced a sentence at a time, and his scribe 
(Elder Whitehead) wrote the same. All things 
were conducted with decorum, while the Spirit 
of the Lord came down upon us in mighty 
power." 

The history of Morraonism forms a melan- 
choly comment upon the weakness and folly 
of man — man so easily led astray — so perverse- 
ly deluded. 

In conclusion, one word more to our coun- 
trymen who may meet with the subjects or 
propagators of this delusion. 

What mistake could be greater than that of 
supposing physical force in any degree neces- 
sary to oppose its spread. 

The force of reason, of demonstration, and, 
if need be, of affectionate entreaty, should in- 
deed be used. If, then, our last appeal should 
be unavailing, the force of experience will 
doubtless, in the course of time, restore all in- 
nocent subjects of this wretched fanaticism to 
their right mind. The following facts deserve 
to be understood by all. 

1. The Mormon Bible originated with men 
destitute of a good moral character. 

2. The primary design of its publication was 
pecuniary profit. 

3. Said Mormon Bible bears prima facie evi- 
dence of imposture. 



330 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



4. It basely perverts the language and doc- 
trine of the Holy Scriptures. 

5. It blasphemously imputes to God language 
inconsistent with his character and holiness. 

6. Excepting perverted plagiarisms from the 
Scriptures of truth, that book is nothing but a 
medley of incoherent absurdities. 

7. The system of Mormonism has arisen en- 
tirely from the Book of Mormox, and the con- 
trivance of its authors and proprietors." 

8. That system has been and still is propa- 
gated by means of deception. 

9. Mormonism, at the same time it pretends 
to be " the fulness of the gospel," is intrinsi- 
cally infidel, and opposed to Christianity. It 
can never be reconciled with the principles of 
a pure religion, 

10. Its legitimate effects are to degrade and 
heathenize society. 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 331 



APPENDIX. 



Containing addenda to the foregoing narrative, 
collected from the Times and Seasons, from Jan- 
uary to June, 1842, and other authentic sources. 

A new and revised edition of the B(^k of Doctrines 
and Covenants was being stereotypea on the first of 
January, to be ready for printing in the spring. 

A book entitled, Evidences in Proof of the Book 
of Mormon, by Charles Thompson, has been publish- 
ed in Batavia, N. Y., containing 256 pages, 32mo. 

Pratt's Voice of Warning has been republished in 
England. 

Joseph Smith, Lieut. General of the Nauvoo 
legidn, issued a circular to his friends in Illinois, 
telling them whom to vote for in the approaching 
gubernatorial election. 

The minutes of the city council of Nauvoo re- 
present the mayor of that city to have introduced 
to his aldermen and councillors, in a highly eulo- 
gistic address, the New- York Herald, and its editor ; 
whereupon said council, in its corporate capacity, 
solemnly resolved that the high-minded and honour- 
able editor of said Herald was deserving the lasting 
gratitude of the Mormon community for services 
rendered their cause. They also resolved to recom- 
mend that paper to the patronage of their citizens. 



332 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

The Nauvoo legion, by its last annual returns, 
numbered fourteen hundred and ninety — " all pretty 
well-disciplined troops. " 

The Nauvoo house. — The work on this stately 
edifice was suspended during the winter, and its 
building committee and agents sent abroad to make 
further negotiations in stock, &c. 

On the 18th of January, 1842, Joseph Smith, pre- 
sident and sole trustee in trust for the church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, makes known to 
all men, unde? his hand and seal, that whereas, in 
Feb., 1841, said Smith did constitute and appoint Dr. 
Isaac Galland his attorney, to transact certain busi- 
ness for the church, and for himself individually, he 
now revokes, countermands, annuls, and makes void 
all the power and authority given or intended to be 
given to said Isaac Galland ! 

What can be the matter ? Is Elder Galland usurp- 
ing too much authority to suit Smith, or is he back- 
ing out from the magnificent enterprise of revolution- 
izing the religious world T — a scheme too boundless 
for ambition itself ! 

The character of Mormon inspiration may be seen 
in the following vision of Joab, general in Israel. 

" I stood in Mount Zion, by the temple of the 
great King, and looked down through the vista of 
time, and saw people like great waters, for they were 
many, gathered from all nations under the whole 
heavens : and I saw mighty chieftains upon noble 
steeds, and armies of chariots and horsemen, and 
strong COHORTS of footmen, great and terrible, with 
spears and banners, and the implements of war, 
forming to the sound of the clarion. And a great 
shout was heard in the camp of the saints, and a 



MORMONISM AND THB MORMONS. 



333 



voice, like the sound of a mighty trumpet, sayin|r, 
Go and possess your inheritance, and avenge the 
wrongs of your progenitors ; and the battle was set 
in array, and the armies of the saints moved forward, 
attended by thunder and hail, and fire and storm, 
conquering and to conquer. And the armies of the 
aliens trembled at the voice, like Belshazzar at the 
handwriting on the wall ; and the hearts of their 
great warriors and valiant men fainted within them, 
and they fled like grasshoppers, and were consumed 
like stubble before the devouring fiam.e. The plains 
were bleached with the bones of the slain, and the 
rivers flowed with blood. The fierce anger of the 
Lord returned not until he had done, nor until he had 
performed the intents of his heart. All were con- 
quered, and the land possessed. Time passed on, 
and I saw ' their swords beat into plough-shares, and 
their spears into pruning-hooks,' and the goodly land 
yielding a rich increase ; and the luxuries of the 
earth, and the choice fruits of the field, were in great 
profusion scattered upon the plains of Eden. And 
I saw flocks and herds, large and numerous, feeding 
upon the luxuriant, waving fields ; and the saints 
praising God in his sanctuary, and in the firmament 
of his power, for his mighty acts, and his excellent 
greatness, with the sound of the trumpet, psaltery, 
and harp, with the timbrel and dance, with stringed 
instruments and organs, and upon the loud and high- 
sounding cymbals, making melody in their hearts, 
and singing loud hosannas to God and to the Lamb. 
And I heard a great shout in the camp of Israel, 
ringing through their mighty hosts, 'Holy, holy, 
holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is 
to come ;' and the saints of light were clad in rich 
attire, decked with jewels and costly pearls, dia- 
monds, and thd gold of Ophir. Universal peace, 
plenteous munificence, and unalloyed happiness pre- 



334 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

vailed with every soul of man : all were habited in 
rich white robes, and glittering crowns, and gave to 
God the glory. And a loud voice proclaimed, This 
is the reward of those who have kept the faith, and 
endured sound doctrine, and the teachings of my 
prophets, contrary to the traditions of men." 

P. P. Pratt proposes to send one thousand dollars 
from England toward erecting the temple. He says 
the "everlasting inheritance" of the saints is called, 
by Mormons in England, the land of Joseph. 

J. Blakeslee writes from Utica, New- York, 10th 
of January, that Mormonism is succeeding to aston- 
ishment in that region, and that he cannot fill one 
tenth of the numerous and pressing calls on him for 
preaching. 

The editorship of the Times and Seasons was, on 
the 15th of Feb., transferred to Gen. Smith, the pro- 
phet, who promises to make that journal very inte- 
resting, by means of the revelations he is receiving 
from the Most High. As though this device was 
not smart enough to keep his twopenny sheet going, 
he has since commenced publishing his autobiogra- 
phy. It is, however, nothing but the old story about 
the plates and the angel, with a few emendations to 
save appearances. 

That our readers may see what materials are used 
in making and confirming Mormons, we copy from 
Smith's paper of March 1st a cut, entitled, "A fac- 
simile from the book of Abraham, No. 1." Any per- 
son who will take the trouble to consult the paper, 
will perceive that the explanation given by the editor 
is arbitrary and absurd in the extreme. He should 
have called it 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 335 
ILLUSTRATION OF MORMONISM, No. I. 




n 



ill 



Fig. 1, which he calls "Abraham fastened upon 
an altar," may be considered to represent either rea- 
son or true religion, which lies prostrate and bound, 
about to be stabbed to the vitals by No. 2, the black 
and ugly genius of Mormonisra, who stands brandish- 
ing his murderous knife in fiendish triumph. No. 3, 
which Smith has blasphemously denominated the 
angel of the Lord, is nothing more nor less than the 
raven of despair, croaking over the doleful scene. 
The images and reptiles occupying the foreground 
are fit emblems of the idolatry to which Mormonism 
consigns its victims, and of the loathsome character 
of this moral pest. 



336 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 

About the 1st of April John Snider was sent as a 
special messenger to the saints in England, bearing 
revelations designed to hasten their gathering at 
Nauvoo. 

In a long essay upon Try the Spirits," General 
Smith endeavours to " drag into day-light, and de- 
velop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that 
are so frequently made manifest among the Latter- 
day Saints." He says, " No man can do this with- 
out the priesthood, and having a knowledge of the 
laws by which spirits are governed." He, however, 
being " a discerner of spirits," doubtless speaks 
" knowingly and by authority," when he says none 
of those spirits should be countenanced save his own. 
One rule by which he distinguishes a good angel 
from a bad one, is " by the colour of his hair." It 
should not be sandy. 

A weekly paper, called The Wasp, has been com- 
menced at Nauvoo, edited by William Smith, and 
devoted to the interests of Mormonism. 

The work on the temple was progressing on the 
2d of May with such rapidity as to give hope that 
the edifice may be enclosed by the fall of 1842. 

Professor Turner, of Illinois College, has just pub- 
lished a work entitled, Monnonism in all Ages ; or 
the Rise, Progress, and Causes of Monnonism, with 
the Biography of its Author and Founder, Joseph 
Smith, Jr. 

On glancing at the title of this book we were in- 
clined to suppose that the prophet would feel him- 
self highly complimented at being installed at once 
as the AUTHOR and founder of a system existing in 
all ages. A perusal of the volume, however, has 
convinced us that, on the whole, Smith will not feel 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 337 



very grateful for the compliments it contains, how- 
ever much his follovi^ers and the public may. 

The appearance of such a work gives evidence that 
the religious community is at length awakening to 
the necessity of exposing and combating the tre- 
mendous infidel agency which is at work under the 
cover of Mormonism, and threatening to unsettle the 
grounds of all rational belief, as well as to plunge 
one of the fairest portions of our country into the 
vortex of an atheistical anarchy. It appears to us 
that Professor T, has involved himself in a species 
of self-contradiction, by maintaining that Joe Smith 
is the real and sole author of the Book of Mormon, 
while, at the same time, he proves the identity of 
that book with the Spalding manuscript, and sup- 
poses Joe to have possessed himself of the latter 
while in the employment of Mr. Stowell, in Che- 
nango county. New- York. The question at issue 
here is one of comparative unimportance. 

We are, however, far from assenting to the posi- 
tion that unity, either of style or sentiment, prevails 
throughout the Mormon Bible. Those who had seen 
Spalding's manuscript say that the religious parts 
of the Book of Mormon have been added. Now, 
these parts bear a distinctive character, (that of 
Campbellism,) which Smith was utterly unqualified 
to give them until after his connection with Rigdon. 
This shows that there were at least three parties to 
the real authorship ; and we think it would be sheer 
injustice not to put Oliver Cowdery, the schoolmas- 
ter, upon as good (literary) footing as his more am- 
bitious pupil, Joseph Smith, Jr. 

Although we regard Professor T.'s philosophy of 
fanaticism as a little fanciful, and think that a few 
exceptions should be taken to his views of human 
testimony, yet we hail his work as one of deep inte- 
rest, and of an eminently practical bearing. 
22 



338 MORMOXISM AND THE MORMOXS, 

Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, was assassinated in his 
own house at Independence, on the 7th of May. Ru- 
mour was immediately set afloat that some adherent 
of Mormonism had performed the deed as an act of 
revenge. We are inclined to believe this a false 
accusation, which the murderer either invented, or 
supposed would naturally arise, to screen himself 
from detection and punishment. 

Late accounts from England represent Mormon 
principles to be rapidly spreading there, in the face 
of all opposition. 

Two ship loads of emigrants have recently arrived 
at Nauvoo, and another is expected soon. 

A Mormon by the name of Nickerson is said to be 
creating considerable excitement in Boston and its 
vicinity. 

Smith's " fac-similes from the book of Abraham" 
have been copied in one or two eastern prints, at 
which circumstance the prophetic editor seems high- 
ly elated, not perceiving that both his pictures and 
himself are the butt of ridicule. He seems to court 
notoriety at any expense. 

Benjamin Winchester, Mormon elder at Philadel- 
phia, has been silenced from preaching, until he 
makes satisfaction for not obeying the first presi- 
dency at Nauvoo. 

As a closing comment on speculative Mormonism, 
we subjoin the following statement, on the authority 
of the newspapers. 

" Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, has applied for 
the benefit of the bankrupt act. His debts, he 
states, are one hundred thousand dollars. Sidney 
Rigdon and Hyrum Smith, the other Mormon lead- 
ers, have also petitioned." 



MORMONISM AND THE 3I0RM0NS. 339 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER L 

Prevalence of imposture — Religion its favourite dis- 
guise — Character of Mormonism— Causes of its spread — 
Extent of the delusion — It furnishes capital for infidelity — 
Design of this work — Wickedness and folly of persecu- 
tion — The true remedy — Notice of Howe's History — 
Corrill's — Golden Bible — Topics of inquiry Page 1 1 



CHAPTER n. 

Character of inspired men — Vicious habits of the Smiths 
— Cupidity of Harris — A chance lie — Contradictions in 
maintaining it — A speculation contrived — Money-digging 
on the Susquehannah — A runaway match — Shocking des- 
titution of moral principle 19 



CHAPTER in. 

Sidney Rigdon — Solomon Spalding — The Manuscript 
Found" proved to be identical with the Mormon Bible — 
Spalding's widow — Rigdon's retirement at Pittsburgh — 
His subsequent course m Ohio 36 

CHAPTER IV. 



The Book of Mormon published— Testimony of the 
witnesses — Cross examination — Probable motives of these 

men — Content? of the book 49 



' 340 



SIORMONISM AN0 THE MORMOS'^, 



CHAPTER V. 

P. P. Pratt makes his appearance in Ontario county — 
He is forthwith converted and ordained — ^Mission to the 
Lamanites — Smith's wife constituted amanuensis — Easy 
method of getting a revelation-— Lamanites found in 
Ohio — Rigdon^s conversdon— Pratt's denial of the con- 
trivance examined ^ . , Page 60 

CHAPTER VL 

Early developments in Ohio~Rigdon visits Smith — 
Becomes prime coadjutor — Revelation — ^Kirtland becomes 
the land of promisie--Spirit of the new religion — Proper 
signification and character of Mormonism — Bugbear sto- 
ries — Financial policy — The gift of tongues- 70 

CHAPTER Vn. 

Preliminary operations in Missouri — Monnon El Dora- 
do — Experience of Mr. Booth — Smith's position and au- 
thority in the church — Commandments — Communion with 
black spirits and white — Treasures — Foundation of Zion — 
The prophet nearly drowned in the " river of destruc- 
tion" — Comment on Rigdon's conversion 90 

CHAPTER Vm. 

Zion established — Enthusiasm of the gathering to Mis- 
souri — Origin of difficulties — Mob law — Mutual provoca- 
tions — Expulsion of Mormons from Jackson county — 
Revelations on the subject — Army of Zion — Essay at 
miracles — Exhibitions of valour — End of the cam- 
paign 101 



MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 341 



CHAPTER IX. 

Theological studies — Book of Doctrines and Cove- 
nants — The name of Latter-day Saints adopted — Specula- 
tion in mummies — Manuscript of Abraham — Authorities 
of the church — Description of the temple — Closing scenes 
in Ohio Page 116 



CHAPTER X. 

Progress of events in Missouri — Inflammatory preach- 
ing — Secret society — Hostilities — ^War of extermination 
— Cruelties inseparable from such an order — Trial of the 
leaders — Testimony before the court of inquiry — Charged 
as ex parte 129 



CHAPTER XI. 

Escape to Illinois — Sufferings — Persecution defeats 
itself — Injustice — Sympathies of the community — Isaac 
Galland — Magnificent enterprise — Place of gathering — 
Missions to England — J. C. Bennett — Revenge — New- 
revelation, corresponding to Galland*s advice — Charters 
for a city — ^University and legion 155 



CHAPTER Xn. 

Military organization — General orders — Astonishing 
parade — Smith outdoes Matthias — Progress of the sect in 
England — Letter to the queen — Literary eminence — 
Moving orders — Dissatisfaction among the emigrants — 
Latest instructions — Advantages of the Mormon po- 
licy 183 



342 MORMONISM AND THE MORMONS. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Theology of Mormonism — Derivation — Affinity to 
Campbellism — Improvements upon the old system — ^Mi- 
racles — Tongues — Conflicting medley of doctrines — Du- 
plicity of the advocates of Mormonism — Honesty of many 
of its follow^ers — Real and distinguishing tenets — Eternity 
of matter — ^Materiality of God — Baptism for the dead — 
Interdiction of the same — Desecrations of the sabbath 

Page 215 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Relation of Mormonism to Christianity — Glance at the 
Book of Mormon — New and improved edition — Author 
and proprietor becomes translator — Chronology — ^A brass 
ball — Miraculous navigation — Narrative— Antecedent voy- 
age — Bloody w^ars — Antiquities of Central America in 
proof of Mormonism — Colour of the Indians accounted 
for 253 



CHAPTER XV. 

Prophecies — Plagiarisms — Caricature of Scripture — 
Plates — Contrivance to forestall objections — Harris's visit 
to Dr. Anthon — Dr. Anthon's letter — Immersion insti- 
tuted — Wickedness of infant baptism — Duplicity of Mor- 
mon teachers exhibited — Their system carried out — Fool- 
ish vagaries — Rival revelator in New- York — Phelps' hu- 
miliation — Cowdery's present position — Reprobation of 
Kirtland — Patriarch's office — Blessing meetings — Sum- 
mary and conclusion 287 



I 



1 



